ProCure 21 is near target, despite 'slow workflow'

The NHS Estates ProCure 21 programme "won't be far away" from its target of delivering £1.2bn to £1.4bn of work in its first year, according to Peter Woolliscroft, NHS Estates head of partnering.
He told CJ he is "very encouraged by the rate at which the work is coming through". He dismissed complaints from principal supply chain partners (PSCPs) that the rate of work was too slow.
Asked why some PSCPs had won substantially more work than others, Woolliscroft said: "They cannot expect work to drop out of the sky. Work will always go to the contractor that makes the best impression, which is why we are setting up training groups for all PSCPs aimed at helping them put their case forward clearly and quickly. NHS Trusts are run by very busy people and they don't have the time to sit in overly long sessions. A 10 or 20-minute presentation is enough."
He said PSCPs also need to work on winning NHS Trusts' confidence. "After all, ProCure 21 is a new system and we are asking these Trusts to take a leap of faith here. So they need to be convinced," Woolliscroft said.
NHS Estates has increased the number of implementation managers to seven. Their role is to help Trusts move from traditional procurement to ProCure 21.