Recommendation 10

When the Department set up NHS Supply Chain, it did not make it mandatory for trusts to use it and trusts are free to buy consumables and medical equipment directly from suppliers or other supply organisations. There are several reasons why the Department did not mandate the use of NHS Supply Chain, including legal barriers. NHSE explained it cannot mandate that foundation trusts buy through NHS Supply Chain, and NHSE noted that it was a very deliberate decision for trusts to use it voluntarily. Instead, the Department wanted to make NHS Supply Chain so ‘overwhelmingly attractive’ that trusts would not choose to go elsewhere.15 NHSE has tried to support NHS Supply Chain and increase trusts’ use of it, for example NHSE has not specifically mandated that all trusts buy all large diagnostic equipment through Supply Chain however, trusts must buy some specific specialised high value products through NHS Supply Chain.16