§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that the contract price for a specific product or service quoted to an individual hospital trust is the same price as that tendered and successfully accepted for a national contract with NHS Supplies. [15699]
§ Mr. HoramIndividual national health service trusts make their own purchasing decisions and are responsible for ensuring that they achieve maximum value for money from their procurement. These decisions are not monitored centrally but are subject to audit scrutiny.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures NHS Supplies are required to follow before accepting a tender for contract; and on what grounds they may award a contract to an offer which is not the lowest tendered price. [15700]
§ Mr. HoramThe procedures followed by National Health Service Supplies staff are laid down in its standing orders and other supplementary guidance. It is also subject to all normal public procurement rules, as well as relevant European Community directives and World Trade Organisation agreements.
NHS supplies aim is to ensure that the NHS receives the best possible value for money from supplies contracts. NHS Supplies awards a contract to the lowest bidder unless this demonstrably offers inferior value for money when compared to other bids.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the cost savings generated by NHS Supplies. [15701]
§ Mr. HoramBetween October 1992 and April 1996 National Health Service Supplies achieved purchasing savings of some £264 million for the NHS.