NHS commercial’s strategic roadmap

As healthcare organisations strive for optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness, practice managers find themselves at the intersection of strategic decision-making and day-to-day operations. Understanding and actively engaging with initiatives led by NHS Commercial can be a game-changer for practice managers looking to streamline procurement strategies and elevate the overall quality of patient care

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on NHS England

In the past 12 months, concerted efforts have been made to formalise ambitions, ensuring a steadfast commitment to taxpayers, and leveraging the significant buying power inherent in the NHS. November saw the proud launch of the new Strategic Framework for NHS Commercial, a pioneering initiative that outlines the ambitions and objectives for the next five years. This framework represents a significant shift in the way NHS Commercial operates, aiming to deliver optimal care for patients.

Four pillars driving productivity

The Strategic Framework focuses on four key themes designed to enhance overall productivity and efficiency:

• The people: Attracting the best and most diverse commercial talent, fostering accreditation, development, and community connection.
• Digital and transparency: Ensuring consistency in system deployment, using quality data as a strategic asset to enhance transparency.
• Consistency: Maintaining agility and consistent buying practices across the NHS to maximise value for money.
• Influence and scale: Leveraging the colossal influence and scale of the NHS to strengthen partnerships, foster healthy supply markets, and deliver wider social value and economic benefits through procurement.

Charting a course for global recognition

NHS Commercial aspires to be globally renowned, supporting the NHS in delivering world-class patient care and outcomes. The 26 strategic statements outlined in the framework serve as a guide to achieving this ambitious vision.

United as One: A community commitment

While pockets of brilliance already exist within the NHS, the framework’s essence lies in uniting as one commercial community to achieve shared ambitions and uncover savings for reinvestment into patient care. It’s a framework crafted by the community, for the community, with collective buy-in and adoption essential for success.

Energising change

NHS Commercial has swiftly turned one of its key framework ambitions into reality. Recognising energy procurement as an area for intervention, a comprehensive review uncovered approximately 200 different energy contracts across NHS trusts in England. In response, they’re leveraging their purchasing power nationally, centralising energy procurement to drive down costs for all trusts. This move, developed in collaboration with the Crown Commercial Service, ensures greater value for money, price stability, resilience, and budget predictability.

National procurement

Benefits of national procurement include bulk discounts based on consumption, enhanced stability and resilience against external events, and heightened budget predictability for trusts. Anticipated savings of £60-£100 million annually over the three-year agreement underline the potency of strategic national procurement.

Practice managers can glean valuable insights into optimising procurement strategies and fostering efficiency from the NHS Commercial’s Strategic Framework, which charts a course for collaborative, cost-effective solutions. This approach ensures streamlined operations and, ultimately, enhances patient care.