NHS launches pilots

by Kathy Watson



NHS Estates is setting up three regional pilot schemes in the autumn to test its new procurement initiative, Pro-Cure 21, that will start next year.

At the launch this week, NHS Estates' chief executive Kate Priestley announced that it will be seeking to work with what it terms principal supply chain partners (PSCPs) across three tranches of contracts. The top tranche will cover work nationwide valued at over £10m and will be awarded to six PSCPs. The next two tranches will be carved up regionally, with four PSCPS for each region for schemes valued at £1-10m, and eight PSCPs per region for schemes valued at under £1m.

Specialist procurement teams, led by NHS personnel, will head up the projects. NHS Estates is still finalising details with its local trusts which cover the eight English regions: South-west; South-east; Eastern; West Midlands, North-west; Northern and Yorkshire; Trent; London. Total procurement spend across the eight regions will amount to £3bn per annum for the next two years.