TENDERING REQUIREMENTS FOR ENDOSCOPY PRODUCTS

That this House notes with concern the current tendering requirements for endoscopy products; acknowledges that the framework contract for endoscopy products, established by NHS Supply Chain in early 2008, allows trusts to draw from the limited list of suppliers of endoscopy products through mini-competitions, thus significantly reducing procurement times and ensuring value for money for the NHS; regrets that partly because of the preference of some NHS staff for endoscopy products from more established brands of the same quality, many NHS trusts fail to call off such mini-competitions and instead opt to apply the terms of the framework itself without making a thorough value for money assessment; believes that NHS trusts should follow the Department of Health's guidance and ensure that competition is enforced in tenders in accordance with its commercial operating model; and calls on the Department of Health, NHS Supply Chain and strategic health authorities to ensure that NHS trusts are encouraged to always run mini-competitions when tendering for endoscopy products, thus ensuring proper value for money for the NHS and the taxpayer.