NHS procurement problems remain in the spotlight. The UK’s largest NHS trust has reportedly overhauled its procurement arrangements following scrutiny of a 12-year consultancy contract! Separately, NHS England is centralising water contracts, with expected savings of at least £5m annually.
These two stories illustrate both sides of procurement: poor governance creates exposure, while aggregation and category management can create substantial value. There is an obvious need for more training. NHS procurement and contract management also need AI to drive efficiency gains.