The Future of PPE in the NHS

The final government report, published in April 2023, states that a total of 25.8 billion items of PPE were distributed in England between the start of the pandemic and 31 March 2023. The centralized free distribution program was officially wound down, with provisions continuing only until existing stocks were depleted or March 2024, whichever came […]

Is Cyber Security One of the Biggest Threats to the Stability of Healthcare?

The UK healthcare sector continues to be a primary target for cyberattacks. In June 2024, a major ransomware attack on pathology services provider Synnovis led to the cancellation of over 1,600 elective procedures and was linked to at least one patient death. Another attack in March 2025 on NHS Dumfries and Galloway compromised the data […]

NHS care revolutionised with launch of ICS

Friday 1 July sees Integrated Care Systems take over from Clinical Commissioning Groups – one of the most significant changes in NHS procurement for many years. While 42 statutory Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) were established on 1 July 2022, they have been mandated to significantly reduce their operating costs. As of 2025, most ICBs are […]

What NHS privatisation could mean for the future of healthcare contractors?

This year, the UK government signed the Health and Care Act 2022. The bill captured the attention of the public eye for its implications for a privatised health service. According to the latest official data for NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) in England, there were 1,523,420 staff (headcount) in September 2024. In 2024, […]

Will innovation be put on hold as the healthcare sector recuperates pandemic losses?

There’s no denying that healthcare leaders of tomorrow will use the events of the COVID-19 pandemic as a marker for future innovation. The pandemic was, in many respects, an incredible feat of rapid response, with doctors, medical professionals, scientists and more uniting to beat a new deadly virus – but the events of the last […]

Can wearable technology help the healthcare sector prepare for the unexpected?

Thanks to advances in smart phone technology coinciding with gym closures caused by lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, smart watches and alternative wearable health devices transitioned from something of a “novelty toy” to an important aspect of everyday life. Depending on the device, model, and manufacturer, these devices have the capability to measure blood pressure, […]

How to tender in the healthcare supply market

The Healthcare Sector, particularly in the UK, is awash with some of the most lucrative contract opportunities available. Did you know that the NHS, which accounts for 80 per cent of total healthcare spend, is associated with £27 billion worth of annual spend? The beauty of fulfilling public sector contracts, especially if we consider hospital […]

How many years has the pandemic set back environmental sustainability?

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Supply chain inefficiencies in healthcare and why data is the solution

One small abrasion to the supply chain link and the effects can be felt for years to come. A stark reminder of this came in 2021 when the Suez Canal blockade resulted in global losses of more than $9.6 billion a day. When we think that the NHS spends approximately £27 billion every year on […]

What you need to know about the UK and Global healthcare market

The latest UK and Global Healthcare Market report from Health Contracts International (HCI) is now available, providing suppliers with an insight into the trends and opportunities expected to be seen in 2022 and beyond, both in the UK healthcare sector and overseas. Here is a quick breakdown of the main points covered in more depth […]