Leading global hygiene and health company Essity says value-based procurement could improve patient outcomes while reducing long-term costs across the health and care system.
A new value-based procurement (VBP) model is now being rolled out across the NHS in England, marking a significant shift away from procurement decisions based primarily on product price and towards a broader assessment of patient outcomes, experience, and whole-system value.
Essity has welcomed the move, describing it as an important step towards improving patient outcomes, supporting patient dignity and independence, and reducing long-term costs across the health and care system. For the company, whose TENA products support people living with incontinence, the new approach represents an opportunity to ensure procurement decisions are driven by patient outcomes, quality of life, and whole-system costs rather than product price alone.
Richard Maddison, Market Access Director at Essity UK said: “For too long, procurement decisions have often been driven by the lowest purchase price rather than the outcomes delivered for patients and the wider healthcare system.
“Value-based procurement recognises that the cheapest product is not always the most cost-effective option. By considering factors such as patient experience, clinical outcomes, workforce impact, and overall system costs, the NHS can make decisions that improve patient outcomes while delivering better value for taxpayers.”
The rollout comes at a time when the NHS faces growing demand and significant financial pressures. Around 14 million people in the UK live with some degree of urinary incontinence, while the NHS spends an estimated 5.13 billion GBP each year on incontinence-related care.
Supporters of value-based procurement argue that procurement decisions based primarily on upfront product costs can overlook wider impacts on patient outcomes, staff workload, and overall system expenditure. According to research commissioned by Essity, 71% of healthcare professionals believe patients could be more independent if the quality and fit of continence products were improved.
Advocates of the approach also point to evidence indicating that person-centred continence care can contribute to reductions in complications such as urinary tract infections and skin damage, while helping to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and supporting patient mobility and wellbeing.
Maddison added: “Procurement is not simply a purchasing exercise. The products selected by the NHS can have a profound impact on a person’s dignity, confidence, independence, and overall wellbeing.
“When patients receive products that are appropriate for their individual needs, the benefits extend far beyond the individual. We see reduced pressure on healthcare professionals, fewer avoidable complications and admissions, and ultimately better value for the NHS as a whole.”
Several NHS pilot projects have already demonstrated the potential benefits of value-based procurement. One pilot involving continence products reported reductions in product usage and leakages, alongside improvements in staff satisfaction and patient confidence. Other studies have shown that clinically appropriate product selection can reduce carers’ workloads, support greater patient independence, and lower overall system costs.
Essity is now calling for value-based procurement to be implemented consistently across NHS procurement systems, integrated care systems, and commissioning structures.
