Recommendation 13

We asked NHSE why it does not do more to understand the reasons trusts purchase through routes other than NHS Supply Chain. NHS told us that, given the resources it has, it only challenges the trusts that are struggling the most financially. NHSE explained, for those trusts struggling the most financially, they could be put under ‘legal undertakings’, and NHSE can require them to use NHS Supply Chain. NHSE does, however, make data 13 Q 116; C&AG’s Report, paras 1.9, 2.5 14 Correspondence from NHSE to the Public Accounts Committee, 15 February 2024. 15 Q 17; C&AG’s Report para 6 16 C&AG’s Report, Figure 12 17 Q 64; C&AG’s Report, para 3.3 18 Q113; C&AG’s Report, paras 3.8–3.9 19 Qq 72–73; C&AG’s Report, para 15 NHS Supply Chain and efficiencies in procurement 11 available to all trusts so they can work out themselves where they can get better value for money. NHSE does not analyse the data to identify what NHS Supply Chain could do differently to persuade trusts to use it more.20