Procurement is the strategic function by which organisations identify, source, and acquire goods, services or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process.
Every single item that is used by the NHS has to go through the procurement process. This includes all goods used daily across the NHS, from bandages and heart monitors, to staff uniforms or knee replacement joints. The range of products and services procurement teams acquire is vast, including IT and financial management, whist also dealing with estates - sourcing and managing the property which the NHS occupies.
NHS procurement teams can focus on buying, contract management, materials management or customer relationship management to name a few. If you’re interested in delivering deeper value for money in an ever changing organisation, then apply for one of the placement opportunities available within procurement.