Working Together to Improve Access to Language Services
As several NHS organisations across West Yorkshire approached the expiry of their language services contracts, there was an opportunity for West Yorkshire ICS (WY ICS) partner organisations to work together to secure a more consistent, resilient and cost-effective service for their patients and staff. By working with NOE CPC and utilising our recently NHS England-accredited Language Services framework (NOE.0583), organisations were able to develop a collaborative solution that delivered benefits at both organisational and system level.
Working alongside procurement and operational teams from across WY ICS, NOE CPC provided specialist procurement expertise to design and deliver a single procurement exercise covering approximately £799,000 of annual spend. By bringing organisations together under one procurement, partner organisations were able to reduce duplication, use their collective buying power and establish a consistent approach to language services across the region.
The resulting contract provides participating organisations with access to high-quality interpretation, translation and British Sign Language services through a tiered supplier model designed to improve resilience and service continuity. Access to multiple ranked suppliers gives organisations greater flexibility and confidence that language support can be accessed when and where it is needed.
Beyond the procurement itself, the project has delivered lasting benefits for participating organisations, allowing members to benefit from a consistent regional approach to language services, improved supplier resilience, reduced duplication of effort and a more streamlined contract management model. The contract also provides increased flexibility through access to face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting services, helping organisations improve accessibility, respond more quickly to patient needs and support operational efficiencies across the system.
Most importantly, the collaborative project has strengthened access to healthcare services for communities across West Yorkshire. By securing high-quality language support through an NHS England-accredited framework, partners have enhanced their ability to provide inclusive, patient-centred care while delivering sustainable value for the NHS.
Imran Ahmed, Head of Procurement at South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, added:
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together towards a shared goal. By working collaboratively and drawing on NOE CPC’s expertise, we have established a consistent and resilient language services contract that delivers value for our organisations while supporting access to healthcare for the communities we serve across West Yorkshire.”
Through a combination of local collaboration and NOE CPC’s specialist procurement expertise, West Yorkshire ICS has established a scalable model that demonstrates how collaborative procurement can improve outcomes for members, patients and the wider health system.
If you’d like to learn more about our NHS England-accredited Language Services framework, you can find more information by clicking here.