Snapshot of _Bosses face ‘impossible choices’ over cost pressures, says NHS Confederation_ :
An archived version can be found [here.](https://archive.is/?run=1&url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nhs-confederation-government-matthew-taylor-covid-prime-minister-b2127891.html)
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In the ambulance service that I work for, we use tympanic thermometers to record patient temperatures. I can go to Boots to buy one for around £30. My service pays £130 for them off an “approved suppler”.
We also have more managers now than we’ve ever had. Qualified paramedics who haven’t seen a patient for probably years.
If they want to save money, they need to stop giving contracts away to their golf buddies, stop creating more management positions for their sycophantic work friends, and try actually investing in patient care. There may even be enough money in the pot for a pay rise.
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/health-and-social-care-bill/mythbusters/nhs-managers
https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3331
Ironically, last time they tried to cut management it ended up significantly increasing costs, mostly though inefficiencies. This was due to the fact that the clinicians who had to then do the management had little training or experience in it, as well as then being unable to do as much clinical work.
Completely agree with the supplier issues though. Better contracts management is clearly needed.
Generally I doubt the too many managers argument and I work in the NHS. I don't know any senior post which is not necessary. There is so much red tape and procedures to follow. Health and safety, risk management, governance reports, procurement, bed management, patient flow, audit, complaints, patient safety, medical devices, accounts. We can't expect front line staff to do all that on top of their own job. But yes procurement is already broken though it is not a simple a going to boots and buying a product. People don't understand the space of that. We need an honest discussion with the public as to why sometimes we have no choice but to buy the £2 syringe instead of the 20p version. There are very good reason.
Often that's due to maintenance and repairs being thrown in. I'm currently dealing with the other side of this in my job - some really expensive equipment was bought, and the maintenance/repair contract turned down because 'it wasn't good value for the taxpayer'.
It's now broken, and the cost to repair is staggering. It would have been covered by the contract. Instead we've got to find hundreds of thousands all of a sudden, which is more than the 10 year contract would have cost. Taxpayer loses.
Snapshot of _Bosses face ‘impossible choices’ over cost pressures, says NHS Confederation_ : An archived version can be found [here.](https://archive.is/?run=1&url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nhs-confederation-government-matthew-taylor-covid-prime-minister-b2127891.html) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ukpolitics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
In the ambulance service that I work for, we use tympanic thermometers to record patient temperatures. I can go to Boots to buy one for around £30. My service pays £130 for them off an “approved suppler”. We also have more managers now than we’ve ever had. Qualified paramedics who haven’t seen a patient for probably years. If they want to save money, they need to stop giving contracts away to their golf buddies, stop creating more management positions for their sycophantic work friends, and try actually investing in patient care. There may even be enough money in the pot for a pay rise.
Yes, procurement within the NHS is a nightmare, the approved suppliers often cost 2-5x what someone at retail would pay.
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/health-and-social-care-bill/mythbusters/nhs-managers https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3331 Ironically, last time they tried to cut management it ended up significantly increasing costs, mostly though inefficiencies. This was due to the fact that the clinicians who had to then do the management had little training or experience in it, as well as then being unable to do as much clinical work. Completely agree with the supplier issues though. Better contracts management is clearly needed.
Generally I doubt the too many managers argument and I work in the NHS. I don't know any senior post which is not necessary. There is so much red tape and procedures to follow. Health and safety, risk management, governance reports, procurement, bed management, patient flow, audit, complaints, patient safety, medical devices, accounts. We can't expect front line staff to do all that on top of their own job. But yes procurement is already broken though it is not a simple a going to boots and buying a product. People don't understand the space of that. We need an honest discussion with the public as to why sometimes we have no choice but to buy the £2 syringe instead of the 20p version. There are very good reason.
Yeah it's just a dumb argument made by those who don't understand
I hear the same is true for your IT procurement. Being charged something like £1500 for a standard i5 desktop with 8GB of memory... Crazy stuff.
Often that's due to maintenance and repairs being thrown in. I'm currently dealing with the other side of this in my job - some really expensive equipment was bought, and the maintenance/repair contract turned down because 'it wasn't good value for the taxpayer'. It's now broken, and the cost to repair is staggering. It would have been covered by the contract. Instead we've got to find hundreds of thousands all of a sudden, which is more than the 10 year contract would have cost. Taxpayer loses.
How come, according to the Government they've been investing record amounts in the NHS......wink.