Now there is GS1, GLN and PEPPOL to be adopted by every company and supplier to the NHS, adding further costs and administration – at zero inflation of course. And, lets not forget Framework agreements, contracts, PPQ forms and tenders – which of course are not on one platform but an ever increasing range of “trust portals” – all with different access points, login details and methods of contact! The “N” in National Health Service is totally inappropirate, it is anything but “national”. Adopting one Procurement system and one sales representative tracking system and one effective on-line tender system, would at least reduce the burden of wading through the mess of schemes that are now in use by each trust and NHS direct!
Years ago, every hospital had a Suppliers Manager, where today they have Procurement departments – I wonder where the extra costs are being spent?
