Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what specific steps he is taking to ensure that the new value-based procurement assessment methodology published by the Department’s Medical Technology and Innovation Directorate is adopted and implemented by all NHS trusts; and if he will take steps to ensure that trusts involve clinicians early in the procurement process to identify improvements in patient experience and outcomes that procurements should seek to deliver.

The Department published the Value Based Procurement (VBP) Standard Guidance on 11 June 2026, in line with commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan for England and Life Sciences Sector Plan. The Department will be undertaking an engagement programme with National Health Service procurement teams to spread awareness of the guidance and encourage uptake. The Department will also convene a VBP Champions Network to promote uptake of the guidance within NHS organisations and will launch expressions of interest to join the network this summer.

Also, in line with commitments in the Life Sciences Sector Plan, the Department will monitor usage of the guidance with feedback from procurement teams and suppliers to inform any refinements or iterations over time. Finally, NHS England and the Department will be launching a training offer to upskill procurement teams on the VBP methodology, including encouraging early clinician involvement within procurement processes as outlined in the guidance.