NHS SBS response to Covid-19 shortlisted for two national awards

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has been named a finalist in both the annual UK National GO Awards and Public Finance Awards 2021, in recognition of the critical role it has played during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Showcasing public procurement and supply chain excellence, the UK National GO Award for ‘Covid-19 Outstanding Response‘ shortlisted NHS SBS for its work in partnership with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, to build and equip the emergency NHS Nightingale Hospital North West in just 10 days.

To ensure the 648-bed hospital opened on time, the NHS SBS expert procurement team used its combined knowledge and supplier relationships to source over 10,000 items of equipment, along with clinical consumables and personal protective equipment.

The announcement dovetails the prestigious Public Finance Awards 2021, which sees Stephen Sutcliffe, Director of Finance and Accounting at NHS SBS, shortlisted for ‘Covid-19 Public Finance Leader of the Year.

The award recognises ‘exceptional leadership in response to the Covid-19 pandemic’ and ‘fresh thinking in how to deliver efficient and effective services in a time of crisis’.

In the early stages of the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) needed to rapidly change its payment model to speed up cash flow to NHS providers. Under Stephen’s direction and leadership, the NHS SBS team helped to facilitate this major change successfully within a few days.

In April and May alone last year, Stephen’s team processed 167,000 purchase orders and paid over one million supplier invoices – worth £7.5bn – whilst managing an additional £46.5bn cash for the NHS. Around the same time, over the course of just one week, it facilitated £1m of urgent salary payments to new and returning NHS workers.

The winners for both awards will be announced in September.

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