Recommendation 27

On the basis that there was not a lot of cash to be earned from this scheme by Greensill Capital, we asked what it was that the company was hoping to get out of this line of busines at the time. The National Audit Office has reported that Greensill Capital considered that a track record for Earnd with NHS employers would convince private sector employers to engage on a commercial basis. Greensill Capital also proposed other supply chain finance solutions to NHS trusts, but trusts surveyed by the National Audit Office reported that they had not taken this forward. The Department told us that the NHS logo and the NHS is a trademark owned by the Secretary of State and cannot be used without his permission. The Department stated that it intervenes when companies and others seek to do so and recognised the concern. The Department highlighted that people trying to access the NHS brand, which is a very powerful brand, was something it took direct interest in, with set measures in place to protect the NHS brand and also take action where misuse is identified.28 25 C&AG’s Report, para 23 26 C&AG’s Report, para 28 27 , Qq 142–147; C&AG’s Report, para 27 28 Qq 173–174; C&AG’s Report, paras 3.16–3.17, 16 The pharmacy early payment and salary advance schemes in the NHS Unregulated consumer lending