A new framework from NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has been launched to help the health service cut waiting lists by streamlining the way it can source approved suppliers for insourcing.
The Insourcing of Clinical Services framework will ultimately help the NHS:
- Secure extra clinical capacity
- Retain capacity planning in-house
- Ensure patients can be seen within trust walls
All encompassing
The new framework includes the entirety of elective specialty services, ranging from everything like ENT, rheumatology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, and cardiology, all the way to urology, gynaecology, endoscopy and dermatology.
It ultimately forms part of NHS SBS’ Elective Recovery Combined Framework Agreement Solution, which helps trusts acquire additional capacity so they can treat more patients and at a faster rate.
“When used appropriately and as intended, insourcing offers the NHS increased capacity within clinical diagnostic and treatment areas, increasing productivity and efficiency,” said Ian French, principal category manager for health at NHS SBS.
Insourcing
Insourcing is characterised by contracting a third party organisation to use NHS facilities to carry out activity during times when they would otherwise be idle – usually out-of-hours or weekends.
It is intended as short to medium-term solution, with some activity being taken because there is a shortage in one specialty.
French added: “Insourcing can help in working towards attaining the 18-week referral to treatment target, enabling the NHS to utilise rooms that may otherwise be dormant, or to hold clinics out-of-hours to increase capacity and thus the volume of patients seen.”
The latest NHS England data indicates there are 7.7 million pathways currently active on the overall waiting list – around 6.4 million of which are unique patients.
“By using spare capacity and employing medical teams, providers can see a high volume of patients in a short amount of time, and the insourcing service procured is tailored to meet the specific needs of the NHS trust,” added French.
Image credit: iStock
![[Left to right] Prof. Ronan Killeen - Consultant Radiologist at St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Andy Wilks - Head of Enterprise Services for Siemens Healthineers Great Britain and Ireland, Edel O’Keeffe - Director of Finance at St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Ghada Trotabas - Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers Great Britain and Ireland, Brian Fitzgerald - Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent's Private Hospital with Grania Heal – Country Head for Ireland at Siemens Healthineers, and Rob Ruttledge](/sites/nhe/files/styles/teaser/public/2024-09/Press%20release%20image-24.jpg?itok=gHKP-rtG)
