NHS England has published guidance to support consistency in robotic assisted surgery procurements, the development of a competitive and sustainable robotic assisted surgery market, and ensure value for money.
“Given the long-term nature of robotic assisted surgery investments and the significant operational, clinical and commercial dependencies that can arise once a platform is established, procurement decisions should promote healthy markets while ensuring the NHS secures value for money and the best possible outcomes for patients,” it shares.
Moving forward, all new robotic assisted surgery procurements should be undertaken competitively and not through direct award, apart from in specific circumstances, NHSE states. Governance and transparency will be strengthened via ongoing monitoring, assurance, and quarterly reporting to the national steering committee for robotically assisted surgery.
Direct awards may still be made in scenarios including installed base expansion limited to the scope of existing clinical pathways that would not justify broader system roll out, genuine urgency or continuity of care, time-limited bridging arrangements, and instances where only one supplier demonstrably meets specific defensible clinical or operational needs.
At a minimum, prior to a direct award, NHSE outlines requirements for the completion of a direct award justification form and evidence, conflict of interest declarations from decision makers and clinical leads, sign-off from clinical director, chief finance officer, and procurement lead, and notification and submission of the justification form to NHSE’s commercial spend controls team.
The justification template further requires a project title, workplan reference, estimated contract value, and information about the circumstances warranting the direct award.
Wider trend: NHSE
NHS England is seeking feedback on its proposed contracting models for multi-neighbourhood provider (MNP) and single neighbourhood provider (SNP) contracts, aiming to promote joined up services, improve health and outcomes, better organise services around local population needs, and outline clearer responsibility for services or pathways. A short questionnaire offering multiple choice questions about level of support for each of the proposed models has opened to collect views, with options to add more detailed answers. The closing date for submissions is 10 September 2026. Feedback on the proposed contracting models will be reviewed to see what changes are required, NHSE outlines.
NHS England has published a quality strategy to outline a structured approach to “making quality the organising principle for all NHS activity in England over the next decade”, including the use of data to measure and manage quality, the promotion of innovation and research, and tech to underpin safer, more consistent care. The National Quality Board is to oversee the development of a standardised, aligned national approach to quality data and reporting, and introduce initial quality metrics to review progress covering outcomes.
NHS England has set out a model discharge pathway, noting seven principles of discharge and what organisations need to have in place to deliver the model. “While the components of good discharge are well understood, they are not applied consistently,” NHSE notes. “There is still unwarranted variation between wards, sites and systems, and across different days and times of year.” The model puts focus on early decisions about those who can be supported through alternative pathways such as virtual wards (Hospital at Home). Local teams will increasingly play a critical role in supporting those with complex needs as neighbourhood-based care develops, NHSE explains, with plans for proactive in-reach into wards and collaboration with hospital teams on early discharge.
