Procurement’s Role in Building the Future NHS
The NHS 10-Year Plan sets out an ambitious roadmap for how health and care services will evolve to meet the needs of people, places, and systems. For those of us working in NHS procurement, this plan presents an opportunity to contribute to that future by bringing in the right partners, creating long-term value and helping deliver better outcomes through every pound spent.
At NOE CPC, we are proud to be part of that mission. As an NHS-owned organisation, we understand the challenges NHS procurement teams face, and we are here to support with practical solutions and trusted advice. The Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England will influence how we as an organisation operate, from daily processes to long term strategy.
The plan envisions a new operating model for the NHS that focuses on devolution, collaboration, and outcome. The structural changes, including the abolition of NHS England and the move for ICB’s to become strategic commissioners of local health services, will continue to require us to align our operational model with the changing landscape.
Procurement is evolving, and we think that is a good thing.
As we have long advocated, procurement is not just about compliance or price. It must enable better care at better value. This means making thoughtful decisions that support frontline services, improve working environments, reduce environmental impact, and deliver the outcomes that matter most to patients and communities, whilst continuing to assure value. Savings will continue to be a priority but we will also need to think about how to align procurement work with the priorities in the NHS 10-Year Plan. These include care closer to home, digital-first models, sustainability, integrated neighbourhood delivery and how procurement is delivered and organised. We are already helping you take steps in that direction and welcome the opportunity to contribute further.
The 10 Year Plan emphasises a collaborative ethos, something NOE CPC has held at its heart since we were established and something we have seen continue to grow and evolve over the NHS procurement landscape. This direction reinforces our core model of joint procurement and shared expertise in support of this continued evolution. It also validates our existing initiatives such as our alliance with NHS London Procurement Partnership and the NHS Workforce Alliance, as well as our collaboration with other regional hubs and Crown Commercial Service to consolidate contracting portfolios nationally, reduce duplication, and align with national category strategies.
How NOE CPC can support your next steps
Our aim is to make procurement not only easier and more collaborative, but also more strategic and more aligned with the future direction of the NHS. Here are some of the ways we can help:
Frameworks ready for today and tomorrow
At NOE CPC, we are accredited by NHS England as a Central Commercial Function (CCF) Accredited Framework host. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of frameworks that help NHS organisations respond to change with confidence. Our frameworks span key areas such as digital transformation, estates and infrastructure, workforce, health and social care services, technology, and corporate support. These provide flexible, fully compliant routes to market that save time, reduce risk, and deliver value across your organisation.
We work closely with trusts and system partners to ensure our frameworks reflect current and emerging needs as well as national priorities. Whether you are looking to implement virtual care, expand diagnostics capacity, embed social value, or support recruitment and retention, we can provide practical, pre-procured solutions that align with your goals. Furthermore, we help support you to make best use of the framework through a range of procurement and technical services that can help you procure and assure value when calling off from the framework.
Alongside our wider portfolio, we also manage the Facilities and Office Solutions category on behalf of NHS Supply Chain. This includes trusted access to a range of sustainable cleaning products, low-carbon furniture, uniforms, and other non-clinical essentials that support the day-to-day running of healthcare environments.
Together, our frameworks and services are designed to meet the needs of today’s NHS while helping you prepare for what comes next.
Using AI and automation to create capacity
For NOE CPC, embracing digital transformation in procurement is a mandate and an opportunity. We have made significant strides in this area; investing in an in-house digital toolkit to improve service accessibility for our customers and support data-driven decision making.
We are supporting NHS organisations as they begin to explore how automation and AI can help in areas like technical advice, specification writing, contract reviews and supplier analysis. These tools are not about replacing people. Instead, they help teams focus their time and energy where it matters most, by reducing admin and surfacing better insights to inform better decision making as Procurement and Supply Chain professionals.
Supporting you through the Procurement Act changes
The Procurement Act 2023 brings important updates to how NHS procurement is conducted. We are already helping trusts deliver on the changes. Whether it is improving transparency, developing pipeline plans, or engaging suppliers more effectively, our frameworks and supporting services help ensure you are on the front foot.
Strengthening supplier insight and social value
Understanding the full picture behind supplier performance has never been more important. Our frameworks and supporting services help trusts make better-informed decisions using data on sustainability, resilience, social impact, and value for money.
We are also helping teams evaluate and monitor contracts more effectively so they can ensure value continues to be delivered across the life of an agreement.
Investing in skills and confidence
We know the demands on procurement teams are growing and they are under ever more pressure to do so at scale and more productively. That is why we are expanding our training and development offer to help teams build capability in value-based procurement, contract management and digital literacy.
Our regular events and learning sessions are also a fantastic way to share ideas, explore what is working elsewhere and stay ahead of national changes.
Looking ahead
The next decade will ask more of NHS procurement teams, but it will also open new ways to lead change, improve services and deliver on shared priorities.
At NOE CPC, we remain committed to helping you meet this moment. If you are planning how your procurement function can support wider transformation, we would love to hear from you and can help you on the journey.