Working with us
We aim to deliver savings of over £1 billion to the NHS by 2016 through cash releasing opportunities and back-office efficiencies. Through greater collaboration with our customers we can deliver greater savings.
Cash releasing savings to the NHS:
- £20m in savings is available instantly to the NHS if you switched to lowest-cost suppliers through NHS Supply Chain
- £7m was saved in 2009 through supplier rebate schemes for the NHS.
- 15% savings was delivered in 2009 to the NHS through our NHS Supply Chain e-Auction tool.
- 5%-10% in savings is available by using our cash to leverage bulk buys and commitments.
- 10%-20% is saved through market and supplier innovation.
- Up to 15% in savings is available through mini-competitions.
Back office savings:
- Delivery consolidation removes up to 60 direct deliveries per day which are picked and packed to individual wards. There is no minimum order or delivery charge, saving an average direct delivery charge of £7.50 per container.
- Order consolidation saves £1 per order line through using NHS Supply Chain’s consolidated service. You will receive just one consolidated electronic invoice per week.
- We offer 500,000 lines through the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Our tendering of national contracts is compliant with EU Public Procurement regulations so you don’t have to go through this process yourself. This equates to £40,000 in cost savings per contract (Atos/OGC 2009 OJEU study.)
- 98% service delivery since an average trust accesses 400 suppliers through our service and we manage them for you. By consolidating deliveries through our route, it removes up to 60 deliveries per week compared with ordering goods separately.
Innovative solutions and products:
- Our managed inventory service allows your trusts to improve your cash flow through accurate stock control and demand planning. The trusts using this service have identified up to 50% obsolete or at risk stock.
- Innovation Scorecard is our online submission tool for suppliers to submit innovative products, developed in conjunction with the National Innovation Centre. This tool has enabled innovative products to be offered more quickly, such as with the Dyson Airblade and SmartOne toilet paper dispensers.
- Task Force programme ensures significant clinical input into our national procurement process, providing input on patient safety, product quality and value for money. To learn more, please visit our Task Force programme page.
- We are a trusted Department of Health partner such as on the:
- National Patient Safety Agency “clean your hands” campaign
- Innovative product pilots from “design bugs out” programme
- Nutritional database set up to support “better hospital food campaign”
Our commitment to sustainable development:
NHS Supply Chain is committed to preserving the natural environment and achieving a sustainable future.
We recognise the importance of sustainable development in creating a better quality of life now and for future generations.
We acknowledge that as a major employer and provider of services to healthcare organisations, our actions have long-term effects on the environment. For every aspect of our business, we aim to create solutions with inherent sustainability.
We recognise the need to join up economic, social and environmental goals. We are committed to using our core competencies to meet the needs of our stakeholders, benefit society, and minimise our impact on human and natural resources.
For further information please visit our sustainability pages.