Commenting on the publication of the National Audit Office’s report into the procurement of consumables by NHS acute and Foundation trusts, South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, a member of the Commons public accounts committee, said:
“The way in which NHS hospitals buy basic supplies is in a muddle, potentially wasting £500 million through incoherent and uneven procurement.
“Hospital trusts do not know nearly enough about the supplies they are buying, from whom they are buying or where savings might be made. Many hospital Trusts are spending more than they need to because they are ordering many different types of the same product. 61 hospital trusts bought 21 different types of A4 paper, 652 different types of surgical and examination gloves and 1,751 different cannulas. It is clear that hospitals could save money if they got together when buying basic items.
“Hospital trusts could also save money by buying in bulk rather than making frequent, small purchases of items like A4 paper, which incurs high administration costs. Foundation Trusts have the power to manage their affairs as they see fit, but trust managers are responsible for proving that they have achieved value for money. They will not be able to hide behind the Department for Health if this situation fails to improve.
“At a time when NHS budgets are under enormous pressure, hospital trusts must look very seriously at any opportunity to make savings”.
2 February 2011
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