Procurement

We work closely with our suppliers to deliver high quality health care services, and have adopted the following 10 ‘golden rules’.   

1. Our procurement department is the first point of contact for all current, new and potential suppliers. 

2. All supplier/company staff must wear an ID badge with their name and company clearly visible while visiting Trust sites. 

3. Trust staff should seek advice and support from the procurement department before engaging with any supplier/company staff. 

4. “Cold calling” or visiting our wards/departments without permission or an appointment is strictly prohibited. 

5. Orders for goods or services must not be solicited from Trust staff – the only recognised documentation is an official order issued via eProcurement.  

6. Price/commercial discussions can be conducted only in conjunction with the Trust procurement department.  

7. Trust staff must not be offered samples of products unless by prior agreement with the procurement department. 

8. Business gifts (other than items of a very small intrinsic value such as diaries or calendars) must not be offered and will not be accepted. 

9. Items of medical equipment loaned or on trial to the Trust will be subject at all times to our medical equipment management procedures, including indemnity arrangements. 

10. Professionalism and courtesy must be shown and reciprocated at all times.  

Climate change poses a major threat to our health as well as our planet. The environment is changing, that change is accelerating, and this has direct and immediate consequences for our patients, the public and the NHS.   

The NHS has committed to reaching net zero by 2040 for our direct emissions, and by 2045 for the emissions we influence through the goods and services purchased from suppliers. To play our part in achieving this goal, we are taking steps to improve the sustainability of our clinical service delivery and reduce the carbon impact of the goods and services we purchase.   

In September 2021, one year on from the publication of the Delivering a net zero NHS report, the NHS England Public Board approved a roadmap to help suppliers align with the net zero ambition between now and 2030. This approach builds on UK Government procurement policy (PPN 06/20 and PPN 06/21). We are committed to ensuring our procurement is managed in line with these requirements and expect our suppliers to comply with the obligations outlined within the NHS net zero supplier roadmap, the key points of which are outlined below.   

Net zero supplier roadmap 

• All NHS procurements will include a minimum 10% net zero and social value weighting. The net zero and social value guidance for NHS procurement teams will help unlock health-specific outcomes (building on PPN 06/20). 

• For all contracts above £5 million per annum, the NHS will require suppliers to publish a Carbon Reduction Plan for their UK Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a subset of scope 3 emissions as a minimum (aligning with PPN 06/21). The Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) requirements for the procurement of NHS goods, services and works guidance outlines what will be required of suppliers and how it will be implemented. 

• From April 2027: all suppliers will be required to publicly report targets, emissions and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan for global emissions aligned to the NHS net zero target, for all of their Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. 

• From April 2028: new requirements will be introduced overseeing the provision of carbon foot printing for individual products supplied to the NHS. The NHS will work with suppliers and regulators to determine the scope and methodology. 

• From 2030: suppliers will be able to qualify for NHS contracts only if they can demonstrate their progress through published progress reports and continued carbon emissions reporting through the Evergreen sustainable supplier assessment. 

NHS Terms and Conditions for the supply of goods and provision of services  

These must be followed for any relevant procurement processes, and will apply to any contractual arrangements entered into as a result of a tendering process. 

The terms and conditions relating to net zero and social value are outlined in Schedule 1 Key Provisions 8. These include the obligations outlined in the NHS net zero supplier roadmap,  and the use of the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment – a tool for self-assessment and reporting net zero progress and wider sustainability efforts. 

• NHS Supply Chain Information for Suppliers 

• Greener NHS Video 

• NHS Contract Management Framework 

• FutureNHS Central Commercial Function (CCF) Hub 

• Health Care Without Harm Sustainable Procurement Resources 

• Guide to using the Social Value Model Document 

• Social Model Value Quick Reference Table 

• Health Anchors Learning Network (HALN) 

• Health Inequalities Hub 

• Technical standards for completion of Carbon Reduction Plans  

• NHS England Central Commercial Function (CCF) Information 

Slavery and human trafficking statement  

This slavery and human trafficking statement is made on behalf of Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust (“Dorset HealthCare”), pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the "Act") for the financial year ending on 31 March 2025. 

Our approach  

Dorset HealthCare is committed to acting responsibly and upholding our high ethical standards. We have a zero-tolerance approach towards any form of modern slavery and human trafficking and we expect our suppliers to subscribe to a similar principle.  

The steps we have taken during the current financial year in relation to combating modern slavery and human trafficking are as follows:    

In relation to our supply chains, which include the sourcing of all products and services necessary for the provision of high-quality health care to our patients: We expect and require all of our suppliers to comply with all local, national and (where applicable) international laws and regulations and to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes in place.    

Our point of contact is preferably with a UK or EU company, who may also be required to comply with the requirements of the Act or similar legislation in other EU states.    

Most of our purchases are against existing supply contracts or frameworks which have been negotiated under the NHS Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract which have the requirement for suppliers to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes to be in place.    

We expect each entity in the supply chain to, at least, adopt ‘one-up’ due diligence on the next link in the chain, as it is not practical for us (and every other participant in the chain) to have a direct relationship with all links in the supply chain.    

We expect all those in our supply chain and contractors to comply with our values.  

We will not support or deal with any business knowingly involved in modern slavery and human trafficking. All suspicions of modern slavery and human trafficking will be reported to the relevant authority.    

We will consider modern slavery issues when making procurement decisions.  

We ensure that our subsidiary companies and joint venture companies comply with the commitments in this statement.   In relation to strategic partnerships and relationships we enter: we expect all of our strategic partners to comply with all local, national and (where applicable) international laws and regulations and have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes in place. We expect all of our strategic partners to share our values.    

In relation to due diligence and risk management (other than our supply chains): we undertake appropriate pre‐employment checks and require our agencies on approved frameworks to do the same.    

We protect staff from poor treatment and/or exploitation and comply with all respective laws and regulations including fair pay rates and terms of conditions of employment.    

We consult and negotiate with Trade Unions on proposed changes to employment, work organisation, and contractual relations.   In relation to our policies and procedures, which set the tone for how we as an organisation operate: we have a clear whistleblowing policy that applies to all individuals working for our Trust and is published on our intranet site. If there are any genuine concerns about any wrongdoing or breaches of the law, including modern slavery laws, these concerns can be raised in confidence and without fear of disciplinary action.   In relation to the training of our staff: our training for staff includes how to recognise and respond to indicators of human rights abuses. It includes examples of red flags specific to our industry, explain our reporting procedures for suspicions and promote an organisation wide sense of responsibility. We have teams responsible for safeguarding of adults and children, to whom staff are responsible for reporting of concerns and whom train staff on how to recognise issues of concern.

This statement will be reviewed annually and made available on our website. 

This statement was approved by our Board of Directors on 11 December, 2024.    

Matthew Bryant   

Chief Executive Officer, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust. 

All purchasing activity for Dorset HealthCare is undertaken in accordance with UK law, public procurement law, regulations and directives, the Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders, and based on the achievement of Value for Money.

Value for money is defined as the optimum combination of whole-life cost, quality and fitness for purpose to meet the Trust’s requirements.

All spend June 2025

25K June 2025