FINANCE: Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust have opted not to join a joint procurement programme involving most other trusts in the South Central region.
Board papers released to HSJ under the Freedom of Information Act show that the trust declined to join a comprehensive procurement provider due to the “timeliness, ability to be compliant and doubt about the model and promised savings potential”.
The scheme would have cost the trust £2.1m over four years. The papers show that a review by Serco, commissioned by Southern Health’s forerunner Hampshire Community Healthcare, found that the trust could save money through improved procurement.
However, the precise amount of potential savings was redacted before the papers were released to HSJ.
Other South Central trusts not involved in the scheme are Berkshire Healthcare, Heatherwood and Wexham Park, and the Ridgeway Partnership.
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Source
Board papers (see attached, right)
Source date
July 2011
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