§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the redundancies announced at the NHS supplies division of the Common Services Agency do not impair that division's ability to monitor and advise trusts on potential hazards in equipment involved in patient care.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe restructuring of the supplies division makes provision for the continued availability of the defects and hazards service. A service level contract with the management executive of the NHS will provide for defects in equipment and other items to be fully investigated and the outcomes reported to the NHS in Scotland.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff were employed in each of the past five years in the NHS supplies division of the Common Services Agency.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe number of staff— whole—time equivalent—employed was:
- 1990: 139
- 1991: 139
- 1992: 139
- 1993: 137
- 1994: 106
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the turnover of the NHS supplies division of the Common Services Agency in the most recent year; and what is his estimate of the savings it achieved through discounts for bulk purchase.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe turnover in 1993–94—the latest year for which information is available—was £201 million.
Savings through discount on bulk purchases are estimated to be in the region of £23 million per annum. This level of savings is expected to continue to be achieved through the mechanism of central contracts.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many NHS trusts in Scotland(a) have 734W contracts with the NHS supplies division of the Common Services Agency for equipment service and (b) have switched such contracts to alternative suppliers.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonSix trusts have entered into firm contracts for equipping work for the next year. Information is not available on alternative contracts which trusts may have entered into with other providers. Not all trusts will require an equipping service in the course of the coming year and in the past some directly managed units who have since become trusts provided their own in-house equipping service.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the meeting took place between Mr. Dunmore, the director of the NHS supplies division of the Common Services Agency, and the NHS executive in Scotland to discuss the future of the division; if he will place copies of the minutes of that meeting in the Library; and what guidance was issued to NHS trusts in Scotland relating to purchasing of equipment through the NHS supplies division.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonStaffing and organisation of the supplies division is a matter for the board of the Common Services Agency.
There have been no meetings between the NHS management executive and Mr. Dunmore, the director. No specific guidance has been given to NHS Trusts, but they are expected to obtain best value for money in purchasing.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has undertaken to assess the additional administrative costs to the NHS in Scotland if NHS trusts cease to purchase equipment in common through the NHS supplies division of the Common Services Agency, and instead enter into separate contracts with individual suppliers.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo studies are required since in making purchasing decisions NHS trusts will ensure that best value for money is achieved.