Smarter buying delivers NHS savings

25 May 2010

Smarter buying and delivery of clinical and domestic goods has saved NHS Boards nearly £23 million last year, freeing up vital resources to be re-invested in frontline care, Public Health Minister Shona Robison said today.

In addition, the introduction of barcode scanning linked to electronic procurement at ward level has made re-ordering new stock faster and more automated. This has freed up staff from administrative duties, with time equivalent to another £1.6 million.

The work of NHS body National Procurement in collaboration with NHS boards was highlighted at today's Annual Review of parent organisation, NHS National Services Scotland.

Ms Robison said:

"Getting the best possible value for money is vital for NHS Scotland - after all, every pound saved is a pound that can be spent on delivering better frontline services.

"National Procurement Is helping health boards to make significant savings and that's particularly important at a time when budgets are being increasingly stretched.

"There will always be competing priorities in our health service which is why the work National Procurement does is so important, negotiating the best deals and ensuring health boards get economies of scale."

National Services Scotland Chief Executive Ian Crichton said:

"NHS National Services Scotland is here to help the NHS perform better for patients. That means not only offering expert advice and support to the NHS across the country, but also delivering some services on behalf of NHS Boards, making savings through central efficiencies.

"We work together with Boards to buy everything from bandages to blood collection systems. This  means that together we can provide quality products and services at the best prices nationally.

"And last year, our fleet delivered over four million order lines with 98 per cent of these on time."