Tender processes
time-consuming and costly. Antonio Fabrizio
reports.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Nine leasing companies have
been chosen for a £100m (€117m) a year framework agreement with the
NHS.
This is the latest contract
for leasing companies working with the NHS, which could result in
more business but also heap additional burdens on UK lessors
through their time-consuming tender processes.
Ken Hunnisett, director
at Cranmer Lawrence, one of the lessors in the framework, said: “We
are grateful for the opportunity. . . The participation process has
been expensive and time-consuming, but if the use of frameworks
results in the delivery of increased volumes of NHS business then
it will all have been worthwhile.”
The agreement stresses the
extent of changes in health-care procurement after PASA was
dismantled last year. The market has changed from having one entity
advising on NHS procurement, to having numerous entities working
alongside the NHS.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataA source familiar with the
situation said: “Everybody was under the impression that NHS Supply
Chain was going to be the default framework, but now we have
intermediaries pairing up with trusts to offer
alternatives.
“In this situation, lessors
have to make sure that their business through every NHS Trust is
still open regardless of which framework it is, or who it is
through.”
Cambridge University
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the central purchasing body and
Leaseguard are administrators for the latest framework.
Steve Swiatek, sales director
of CHG-Meridian, also on the Cambridge framework, said: “The NHS is
a key area for residual-based IT leasing. We are a major player in
the public sector and it remains our intention to grow our
presence.”
Three other agreements have
been launched this year.
The biggest was rolled out in
June and involved NHS Supply Chain and 20 preferred leasing
suppliers. The other two involved Healthcare Purchasing Consortium
(HPC) and Buying Solutions as framework administrators.
FLA head of asset finance
Julian Rose said: “It is great so many trusts are now discussing
leasing right at the time when they are selecting new medical
equipment.”
Cranmer Lawrence has been
selected for all four frameworks and hopes to gain a place on two
more: a second HPC agreement and another with Pro-Cure
Collaborative Procurement Hub.
The other lessors selected
for the Cambridge framework are De Lage Landen, Siemens Financial
Services, Lombard North Central, Singer Healthcare Finance, GE
Capital Equipment Finance, Asset Finance & Management and
Solutions Asset Finance.
Other NHS bodies such as
acute trusts, mental health trusts, foundation trusts and primary
care trusts will be able to lease assets using the multi-supplier
framework. Each will run a mini-competition.
The volume of lease financing
under the framework is expected not to exceed £100m a year. Actual
volumes will depend on customer uptake for the services.
Lessors will provide medical
and non-medical equipment.
