You could hardly have missed that there are big changes afoot in the UK National Health Service (NHS), not least GP consortia to become the new commissioners of health services from 2013 and the need to find around £20bn of savings to reinvest to meet the health needs of a growing population over the next few years. I attended the National NHS Procurement Conference 2011 to get some pearls of wisdom from the horses mouth so to speak.
The catchphrase of the day was "there are more questions than answers!" with some seeing all the changes as a "diversion" from the need to make cuts which is pressing and necassary due to the dire state of public finances.
The day covered supply chain management with some good insights into how large scale (non UK) private sector companies are in the driving seat and making good profits into the bargain.
Even though government says the NHS budget is protected cuts are being implemented as I write - today tariffs paid to hospitals have been reduced for many operations and hospitals will have to find a way to cover the reductions.
What could have easily been a rather dry day was infact very thought provoking - I have posted a full blog detailing what the main speakers said and where the agenda is going on my tender website - read it here: NHS Procurement More Questions Than Answers?
Commentary on funding and innovation with a major focus on UK government research and development tax incentives (R&D tax credit and relief) including what qualifies and how to get it!
No comments:
Post a Comment