NHS trusts looking to reduce treatment backlogs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic have spent more than £1.2 million on suppliers through the Insourced Services to support the Provision of Healthcare Services framework – and this spend is expected to grow to more than £12 million by the end of the contract in October 2023.
NHS Workforce Alliance has been helping trusts source suppliers to work through the six million people waiting for planned NHS treatment, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies reporting that waiting lists might not fall until early 2024.
At least 11 trusts used the NHS Workforce Alliance’s framework in its first six months of operation, sourcing suppliers to cut backlogs in areas such as endoscopy, dermatology, cardiology diagnostics, diagnostic imaging and pain management.
Open to new suppliers
The framework is open to suppliers who provide all types of clinical service, with new merchants being added to the agreement every six months – maximising the choice available to customers. Those that made successful bids during the first re-opening were due to join the agreement in May 2022.
Trusts can use an insourcing service to reduce their backlogs while keeping capacity planning in-house.
Free to access and available now
Customers can secure additional clinical capacity and ensure patients are seen within the trust by using our free to access framework.
The framework is free to access and offers customers a short to medium-term solution to secure extra clinical capacity and ensure patients can be seen within the trust.
Joanne Barton, Senior Category Manager, HR & People, at NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC), part of the NHS Workforce Alliance, said: “The Insourced Services framework has enabled suppliers who specialise in a range of clinical services to support NHS trusts bring down their waiting lists at a time when the pandemic continues to put huge pressure on services.
“We hope that both existing suppliers and those joining the framework will continue to provide vital assistance to trusts across the country.”