Recommendation 3

NHSE does not challenge trusts as to why they do not buy more products through NHS Supply Chain. Trusts submit data to NHSE on how much they spend on medical equipment and consumables, and through which suppliers (including NHS Supply Chain). NHSE makes this procurement data available to all trusts but relies on them to analyse the data and change their practices in response. Despite NHSE’s central role, it does not use this data to identify and generally challenge trusts as to why they do not purchase more using NHS Supply Chain. Instead, it told us it that, 6 NHS Supply Chain and efficiencies in procurement given its resources, it only challenges the trusts that are struggling most financially. In addition, NHSE does not analyse the data to identify what NHS Supply Chain could do differently to persuade trusts to use it more. It is disappointing that the information NHSE collects is also incomplete, as 55 trusts (out of more than 200) do not routinely provide this data. NHSE should work with trusts to improve the data available to it. Recommendation 3: NHSE needs to use procurement data more systematically to challenge trusts to buy more consumables and medical equipment through NHS Supply Chain.