Shaping the Future Together: Clinical Experts Explore the NHS 10 Year Plan and Collaborative Role of NHS Supply Chain

On 13 May 2025 we hosted our annual all colleague ONE NHS Supply Chain conference. The day was very much focussed on our theme ‘Simplify and Grow’ and featured moving real-life stories, key business updates, and guest speakers.

A highlight of the morning was an insightful clinical panel made up of experienced NHS healthcare professionals – all women, representing a range of different roles from across the healthcare system. The experiences and knowledge they shared was particularly engaging and resonated with our colleagues in the audience.

Creating Lasting Value for Patients – Clinical Panel

• Linda Hindle, OBE – Deputy Chief Allied Health Professional, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSE)
• Steph Lawrence, MBE – Director of Nursing and Deputy Chief Executive Officer The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing
• Emma Nuttall, National Clinical Care Pathway Lead
• Stella Vig, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, NHS England (NHSE)
• Pia Larsen, Chief Procurement Officer, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

The clinical panel was hosted by Kate Taylor, our Director of Clinical Operations and Development.

Our panellists embarked on an engaging discussion focussed on the NHS 10 Year plan, its three ambitions and how NHS Supply Chain can best work collaboratively with our NHS partners.

The plan will ensure support for patients both within hospitals and in their home environment, in an ever-changing political and technological landscape.

Steph Lawrence MBE highlighted the challenges of shifting care for patients from hospitals into the community. She talked about the importance of ensuring that the products we provide always give the best outcome for the patient.

It’s not always about using the cheapest product. It’s about using the right product that gives the most cost-effective care outcome for the patient – spending more on the right product saves money in the long term.

It’s not always about using the cheapest product. It’s about using the right product that gives the most cost-effective care outcome for the patient – spending more on the right product saves money in the long term.

Steph Lawrence MBE, The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing

The discussions were also underpinned by the three themes of our recently launched Clinical and Quality of Care Strategy: Promoting Quality of Care, Partnerships and Population Health Management.  

The implementation of this strategy will ensure that the patient is at the heart of every decision we make within NHS Supply Chain, with a focus on patient safety and improved patient outcomes, ensuring procurement is not just cost effective but also clinically effective.

See our Useful Links section for more information on our Clinical and Quality of Care Strategy.

Reflecting on the interactive discussion with the clinical panel, Kate Taylor said that she felt “the conversations brought forward invaluable insights into the need for procurement functions to go beyond transactional roles and actively support the delivery of safe, effective care”.