Briefing / Centralised inventory procurement

NHS England is rolling out a new national, centralised system for purchasing expensive medical devices and implants used in specialised services. Roll out of the system started during 2016/17 and will be completed during 2017/18.

This is one example of centralised procurement which may become more widespread in the NHS as bodies work together on a system-wide basis to deliver efficiencies and improve financial sustainability. 

This briefing summarises the new arrangements and considers what this means in wider terms for centralised procurement arrangements.
It also considers the accounting implications of one NHS body procuring stock which is held and used by another NHS body.