Clinical and Product Assurance Framework

The CaPA Framework ensures that our procurement is underpinned by evidence and expert input from a wide range of stakeholders, from patients and users to national clinical expert bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT).

CaPA are committed to ensuring that by 2022 100% of the products we sell are fully assured in line with our Assurance Framework. We believe that this commitment will support us to deliver products that are safe, fit for purpose and innovative, providing value for money to the NHS and offering the right range of quality products to our patients and users.

Our Assurance Framework operates at every step of NHS Supply Chain’s procurement process, from the initial Category Strategy and associated Sourcing Strategy, through to final Product Evaluation Reports. The framework sets clear expectations covering standards that must be adhered to for all products, including stakeholder involvement to ensure that the needs of product users, including patients, carers and health and care professionals, are considered and met.

The CaPA team, in close collaboration with all Category Tower Service Providers (CTSPs), support assurance throughout the procurement process.

• Product evaluations reflect clinical product complexity, dependencies and interdependencies
• Outcomes of stakeholder involvement are used to inform the product range and product specifications
• Products reflect the needs of patients, users, and national strategy and expert reference groups
• Quality and safety are maintained across product ranges, in line with the continually evolving evidence base.