Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2023 to Question 186357 on Incontinence: Products, how the most economically advantageous tender approach in relation to procurement of absorbent continence products takes into account (a) whole system costs, and (b) item pricing; and what steps he is taking to help ensure the approach (i) does not deter product innovation, (ii) does not adversely impact patient quality of life and health outcomes, (iii) decrease resilience in the supply chain and (iv) incur additional costs.

The NHS Supply Chain have a disposable continence framework in place which runs until August 2025. All suppliers are awarded onto the framework, with evaluation based on the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT). Financial and non-financial evaluations are undertaken independently of each other. When a trust selects a supplier, the trust will evaluate potential suppliers on the framework, evaluating the subjective, qualitative features of ease of use, comfort, comparative reduction in leakages, quality of life and health outcomes.

NHS Supply Chain are currently in the process of working on two separate value-based procurement projects, both of which aim to concentrate on leaks, reduction in mobility, loss of dignity, reduction in quality of life, or risk of skin infections and pressure ulcers.

The Government's new Medical Technology Strategy, published in February 2023, set out how the health and social care system can reliably access safe, effective and innovative medical technologies that support the continued delivery of high-quality care, outstanding patient safety and excellent patient outcomes in a way that makes the best use of taxpayer money. To deliver value for money and affordability across the whole patient pathway, DHSC, NHS Supply Chain and NHS England are building on work to develop a consistent methodology for value-based procurement of innovative products.