Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, secures a paradigm-shifting commitment from NHS procurement vehicle, NHS Supply Chain.
NHS Supply Chain (NHSSC), the leading national organisation in England for supplying medical devices, healthcare products, services and foods to NHS trusts and healthcare organisations, has finally committed to apply a new value based procurement assessment methodology across its procurement activity.
In a direct message to me on social media, the organisation made the commitment for the first time, saying it would “ensure our decisions deliver the best outcomes, value and impact for the NHS”. This paradigm-shifting commitment came after months of NHS SC officials prevaricating over whether or not the new methodology, developed by the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC’s) Medical Technology and Innovation Directorate over the last three years, would be the basis of its future framework procurements.
The new commitment, made in response to a challenge I made to NHSSC on LinkedIn, brings clarity and an end to uncertainty for industry, which can now begin to prepare for the introduction of the new methodology across the NHS in England, which is scheduled for June this summer. The DHSC is also currently consulting with industry to assess its preparedness for the new approach and to enable the identification of additional training and tools that may be required to make the roll-out successful.
Readers of this column will be welcome to find out more about the ground-breaking new approach to NHS procurement by attending the panel event that I’m hosting at MedTech Expo 2026 on 4th June at the NEC in Birmingham. Further details of this must-attend session will be announced shortly, but other key presentations will come from David Lawson, head of the DHSC’s Medical Technology and Innovation Directorate, Professor Sally Lewis of Swansea University’s Value Based Health and Care Academy, and Richard Maddison of leading medical products supplier, Essity; and we will be joined for discussion by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, former health minister, senior NHS executive, and Patron of the Health Care Supply Association.
The author used AI in preparing this article. Comments upon or questions about this article can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.
