Edge4Health procurement platform helps NHS trusts source COVID-19 products
Newly-launched gateway offers suppliers flat rate to make their innovations available to struggling healthcare organisations
A newly-launched NHS procurement platform is branching out to enable health organisations to source innovative products that will help to manage the current COVID-19 crisis.
Edge4Health was launched earlier this year to transform the way the NHS buys its products and services – currently some £9billion of annual spend.
Developed by NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) and technology company, Virtualstock, it aims to deliver cost savings and efficiencies, better data management, greater compliance, and end-to-end supply chain visibility.
And this week it was revealed that NHS trusts have increasingly been using the platform to purchase products and solutions that will help with the COVID-19 crisis.
A spokesman said: “If you supply products to the NHS, we ask you to register immediately on The Edge4Health.
“Your entire catalogue of products, including list price, will then be available to sourcing teams across the country which are in urgent need of a wide range of products at this time.”
And suppliers are being offered a reduced listing rate, with a flat fee of £240 enabling them to upload their complete product range and list prices, which will then be visible on an electronic catalogue for NHS organisations to view.
In the three months leading up to the coronavirus outbreak, £8m of NHS spend was transacted via The Edge4Health.
The technology brings together thousands of suppliers and NHS organisations on to one easy-to-use platform, streamlining the buying process, while reducing errors and delays in ordering and invoice payment.
