Supplying to the NHS as a Social Care Provider

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is one of the largest buyers of goods and services in the world and presents some enormous opportunities for businesses and social care providers. If you’re a social care provider looking to partner with or supply to the NHS, knowledge of the procurement process, what’s required and what’s expected is critical. This article will give you a deep insight into how to become a supplier to the NHS, as well as the benefits, challenges, and effects on your social care business. If you’re a social care provider and want to supply to the NHS, this guide can help you understand the important
steps and what’s needed to supply.

What is NHS Procurement and Supply Chain?

Supplying to the NHS is a structured process that seeks to foster efficiency, safety, and value for money. NHS procurement is done at different levels, some at a central level and others at a more local level. To explore opportunities to become a supplier, first, you need to understand how the NHS buys services.

The NHS Procurement Strategy

The NHS has a strategic approach to procurement, which means that all goods and services purchased are done so in an efficient and cost-effective manner. NHS procurement is, as part of this strategy, increasingly focused on value-based purchasing, where the intent is not just to save money but also to find innovations and technologies that enhance patient care and patient outcomes.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) eProcurement Strategy means that social care providers wishing to supply to the NHS must comply with the DHSC eProcurement Strategy. In order to do this, an NHS acute trust must procure all goods and services in line with GS1 and PEPPOL standards.

Adhering to these standards is important to ensure a supply chain that is efficient and safe for patients, which is why it’s vital that suppliers align with these expectations.

Procurement Pathways and Portals

To supply goods or services to the NHS, social care providers must understand the different procurement pathways and platforms available:

• Contracts Finder: It is the main platform for finding NHS contracts above £10,000. It is a key resource for social care providers wishing to access contract opportunities.
• NHS England eTendering Service: A free and secure portal through which tenders and procurement notices for NHS opportunities can be accessed. It gives suppliers the ability to take part in a procurement process, place bids and track opportunities.
• Supplier Registration Service: Registering on the Supplier Registration Service for Government will provide suppliers with increased visibility and open the door to more than 6,000 government buyers.
• NHS Supply Chain: Social care providers are key partners of the NHS Supply Chain, enabling access to a number of NHS procurement opportunities. Suppliers are able to gain streamlined access to the market, fewer points of sale, and receive specialist procurement advice from category experts.

Working with the NHS as a Social Care Provider

NHS services are supported by social care providers, who provide support to patients in the community. With the rise of integrated care, providers have been required to collaborate with NHS bodies to provide holistic services, and the demand for collaboration has increased. Social care providers need to understand their role in the NHS framework and work in sustainable partnerships.

The Role of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and Partnerships

Social care is a key part of health and care in the UK, and a partnership between social care providers and the NHS is central to strategic planning. Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are one of the most important developments in the UK’s health landscape. These are systems that try to make the healthcare provider, social care service and the local authority work together to deliver care across all the sectors seamlessly.

Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) are being brought together as part of ICSs to encourage greater collaboration between health and social care providers. Social care providers are expected to be active partners in delivering the full potential of these partnerships in terms of reducing ill health, preventing unplanned care and addressing workforce challenges.

Expected Ways of Working

To achieve better health outcomes, social care providers must engage with ICPs and operate on the basis of collaboration principles. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England, and the Local Government Association have developed a set of principles to guide partnerships between adult social care providers and ICPs:

• Collaboration: System partners should all work together to improve health outcomes.
• Critical Partnership: Adult social care providers are vital partners in the planning and delivery of care.
• Unified Voice: The social care voice must be well represented in service planning by ICPs and providers.
• Local Partnerships: Stronger working relationships are built on existing partnerships at the local level.
• Best Practice: Good practices are shared across regions and systems in order to improve the quality of health and care services.​

Steps to Becoming an NHS Supplier

Social care providers need to provide more than just their services to be able to supply the NHS effectively. To succeed, they must meet stringent standards, understand procurement processes and present a value-based approach to their offerings. Becoming a successful NHS supplier requires preparation and planning to tackle health challenges and ultimately achieve better patient care.

Meeting Compliance and Innovation Requirements

• Compliance with Standards: GS1 and PEPPOL standards must be met for social care provider products and services to be efficient in the supply chain and safe for patients. As a resource, Scan4Safety is essential for suppliers to understand compliance and improve clinical productivity.
• Innovation and Technology: The NHS is keen to embrace new products, services and care models that will enhance the quality of healthcare. Providers are encouraged to develop and present well-evidenced innovations to meet healthcare needs. Suppliers with innovative solutions are encouraged to engage with the Accelerated Access Pathway and Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), as these organisations have a key role in identifying local NHS needs and enabling the adoption of new technologies.
• Participating in Procurement Opportunities: Suppliers should seek tenders and contracts through platforms such as Contracts Finder, NHS England eTendering Service, and NHS Supply Chain.
• Engage with NHS Supply Chain: There are a number of advantages that social care providers can gain from working with NHS Supply Chain, including fewer sales points, access to procurement specialists and a more streamlined distribution channel​.

Joining the NHS Supply Chain

The NHS Supply Chain is one of the main procurement routes for social care providers and suppliers, providing several benefits:

• Simplified Market Access: For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), there is a single route to market.
• Specialist Support: It is also possible for procurement teams with specialist knowledge in different product areas to help suppliers align their products and services to NHS needs.
• Regional Distribution and Relationship Management: Regional distribution centres and a dedicated Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) team are available to support suppliers with their needs and to improve supply chain resilience.

NHS Supply Chain also has a number of support mechanisms for suppliers, including a Supplier Portal, regular newsletters, a Code of Conduct for suppliers and information on the contract and tender process.

Challenges of Supplying to the NHS

While supplying to the NHS presents significant opportunities, it also comes with challenges:

• Strong Competition: NHS procurement is a competitive landscape, with many suppliers vying for tenders and contracts.
• Lengthy Processes: Submitting tenders, meeting compliance standards, and navigating procurement systems are time-consuming and resource-hungry for social care providers.
• Meeting Compliance and Standards: Suppliers must supply products and services that meet standards, such as those of the GS1 and PEPPOL standards, for supply chain efficiency.

Benefits of Supplying to the NHS

Despite the challenges, supplying to the NHS offers many benefits for social care providers:

• Access to a Large Market: As the largest buyer of healthcare services and products, the NHS presents a significant market for suppliers.
• Opportunity for Growth: Successfully supplying the NHS can be very good for a provider’s credibility, market presence, and business growth.
• Support for Innovation: The NHS actively promotes and supports innovative technologies and care models and provides suppliers with a route to market to bring new solutions to patients and improve patient care.

Conclusion

Supplying to the NHS as a social care provider is a journey that needs to be understood in terms of procurement pathways, compliance standards, and partnership principles. There are opportunities and challenges in the procurement processes available to social care providers but with the right approach, standard alignment, and collaboration, large-scale business growth can be achieved and better care outcomes for communities.

Social care providers can put themselves at the heart of the health and care landscape by engaging with procurement pathways, such as the NHS Supply Chain, working in collaboration with ICSs and developing innovative, value-based solutions. Supplying to the NHS is not only good for business growth but also for helping improve health outcomes for the population, and that’s a rewarding and impactful thing for social care providers to do.

To take the next step in becoming a supplier to the NHS, schedule a free consultation by visiting our contact page. Stay connected with AssuredBID on LinkedIn and Facebook to keep up with the latest NHS contracts.