Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, (a) whether procurement assessments are expected to include comparison with the existing standard of care, (b) how incremental clinical benefit is expected to be measured where a medical device is assessed against an existing treatment pathway, and (c) what weighting is given to clinical outcome evidence relative to cost data in Value Based Procurement assessments.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.
The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.
The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.
NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.
The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the level of alignment between the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology and (a) NHS Trust financial requirements under the 2025-26 NHS operational planning guidance and (b) NHS budgets available for investment in MedTech innovation.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.
The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.
The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.
NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.
The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, whether that guidance applies across different categories of MedTech, including consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies; whether his Department plans to introduce differentiated evidence standards for those categories; and which industry bodies have been consulted on the category-specific application of that guidance.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.
The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.
The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.
NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.
The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the availability of comparable clinical outcomes data across MedTech product categories, (b) the availability of cost-effectiveness evidence for medical devices, equipment and digital health technologies, and (c) the potential effect of evidence gaps on the consistent application of Value Based Procurement.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.
The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.
The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.
NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.
The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recently completed NHS Trust pilots of the Department’s Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, (a) what assessment his Department has made of the pilots and whether this assessment will be published, (b) what conclusions were reached on procurement savings, clinical outcomes and implementation barriers, and (c) how the pilot findings informed the draft guidance.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.
The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.
The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.
NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.
The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the draft Value Based Procurement guidance for Medical Technology, what role NHS Trust Finance Directors will have in value assessments of medical technology; whether that guidance requires Finance Director sign-off for procurements above defined financial thresholds; and whether NHS England plans to issue guidance to NHS Trust finance teams on implementation of Value Based Procurement.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Value Based Procurement (VBP) guidance, published on 11 June 2026, applies to medical technology as defined by the Medical Device Regulations 2002. This includes consumables, implants, diagnostics, equipment and digital technologies. The Department worked with trade associations, suppliers, and patient groups to develop supporting information which sets out the types of evidence that buyers should consider assessing when carrying out a VBP process. The guidance states that evidence standards should be used to the extent relevant, accounting for the maturity of the supplier base, product being procured, and availability of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome data. Buyers should also seek to understand the maturity of evidence through pre-market engagement with suppliers.
The Department will publish the independent evaluation of the VBP pilots this summer. Feedback from the National Health Service trusts involved in the pilot work demonstrated that the guidance was considered usable by procurement teams, helped to simplify the procurement process and reduced variation in how non-financial criteria are evaluated. The pilot findings informed refinements to the final published guidance and implementation planning. The Department intends to undertake ongoing monitoring and assessment of how the guidance is being applied in practice to measure its impact and inform future development.
The new Medium Term Planning Framework sets out a multi-year funding settlement for the NHS to support a move to medium-term financial and delivery planning cycles. The on-line training that is being provided for procurement teams will support the adoption of the guidance and explains how the structured and standardised approach should streamline the procurement process.
NHS trusts are responsible for setting and adhering to finance procedures, including the involvement of finance directors in purchasing decisions as per schemes of delegation. To support understanding of the guidance within the finance community, the Department engaged with finance professionals via professional networks during its development. The planned evaluation over the coming months of how the guidance is been applied will assess if further actions are needed to embed principles of VBP.
The guidance sets out that buyers should conduct their procurements in line with relevant legislation. The guidance recommends that buyers should communicate the existing standard of care and any performance baselines, to the extent relevant to the product or service being procured. Buyers should work with relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, to determine the most suitable method of assessing incremental clinical benefit and the associated weighting this should be given relative to cost, tailored to the product being procured and the supplier market.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England collects information from NHS bodies on medical equipment loaned to patients that is \(a) lost, (b) damaged beyond repair and (c) not returned.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.
The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is (a) lost, (b) damaged beyond repair and (c) not returned.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.
The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance NHS England provides to NHS bodies on the (a) recording, (b) tracking and (c) recovery of medical equipment loaned to patients for use outside NHS premises.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.
The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which body is responsible for pursuing the return of medical equipment loaned to patients where that equipment was supplied by (a) an NHS trust and (b) an integrated care board.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.
The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.