§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 27 February (WA 57–58), what authority will the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency have to require laboratories to purchase from contracted suppliers when it becomes responsible for the bulk procurement contracts of the Public Health Laboratory. [HL2178]
§ Baroness AndrewsLaboratories transferring to National Health Service trusts will be expected to maintain existing commitments to contracts and to continue to use these agreements when they are taken over by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency so as to continue to realise their overall benefits of value for money and accredited quality.
There has been no indication from any NHS trust that it intends to do other than to utilise these central contracts.
The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contracts at national level for goods and services on behalf of the NHS. Contracts are made at national level only where there are clear and demonstrable benefits from aggregating demand, achieving economies of scale (undertaking work once-only on behalf of the whole of the NHS) and managing markets of strategic importance. Where the most appropriate levels of contracting have been agreed with NHS trusts, there would be a clear expectation that commitment is given to using these contracts to achieve best value for money.