How NHS Trusts Can Save Money on Data Services

Due to rising costs, staff shortages, aging populations and budget deficits, the financial state of our healthcare industry is under significant pressure across the world. 

In the wake of this, healthcare providers and organisations are constantly searching for ways in which they can leverage technology and optimise its supply chain to reduce costs. 

By reducing costs on mobile and data services across healthcare services, organisations can craft a financially and environmentally sustainable healthcare system. Not only will this change result in more funds being available for patient support and staffing, but it will also enhance efficient spending on technology and improve communication and coordination between healthcare providers. 

Aiming to improve the overall financial health of the NHS, the Clinical Digital Solutions team at NHS London Procurement Partnership (NHS LPP) has partnered with NHS England to help NHS trusts across England reduce its expenditure on mobile voice and data services. 

NHS trusts across England can request a free audit to discover how they can improve its savings and unlock new framework tariffs for data and mobile phone voice services.

The partnership is run through the CCS Framework RM6261 and sole supplier Nuvoli, which are a telecoms management practice.

It was reported that in August 2024, 100 audits had been completed across England, resulting in around £20m (approx. US$26m) of savings to be created. 

Preeya Bailie, Director of Central Commercial Function, NHS England, comments: "By taking up this initiative, trusts can unlock in-year savings and eliminate unnecessary expenditure with a simple review of their mobile phone contracts.”

“This offers financial benefits for every trust but also supports green practices by encouraging the reuse of mobile phones. I encourage all trusts to take advantage of this opportunity."

The process

The NHS LPP team has reduced the administrative burden for trusts that wish for an audit to be carried out. By streamlining the audit process, engagement from NHS trusts can increase.

If a trust wants to have its current estate audited, the process is as follows-

    1. NHS funded audit 

The audit begins with trusts having a 15-minute call to discover its estate actuals and any unnecessary features. Then, experts from Nuvoli will be able to highlight key areas to be improved within the trust. 

     2.  Letter of authority

To access the benefits of this audit, NHS trusts across England will need to agree for NHS LPP to conduct the work on their behalf through a letter of authority.

    3. Saving Validation

Through the report, trusts can discover an abundance of insights that can enhance financial efficiency, such as saving money through recycling and improving internal policy enforcement.

    4. Supported contract call-off

After identifying all potential savings and outlining an action plan, NHS LPP will ensure everything that has been focused on and agreed upon is in the call-off contract.

   5. Framework access

NHS LPP will allow trusts to access the framework through a Unique Reference Number (URN). Then, the organisation will communicate with the chosen supplier to check the Call-Off Contract and identify the key benefits.

Finally, NHS LPP will validate the process, ensure the costs reflect the new reduced tariffs and help to deliver any additional savings identified. 

“We were contacted by NHS LPP to undertake an audit of our mobile phone contracts," adds Stuart Wilson, IT Operational Manager, Harrogate and District NHS Trust.

"They put us in touch with a third party auditor and after an initial introduction, we were asked to provide reports on our mobile phone usage and costs over the last nine months.”

“This involved simply exporting the data out of our accounts, and sending it across to the auditors. This took a maximum of 20 minutes.

“Once that aspect was complete, we waited for the results which were provided around four weeks later. The information we received was detailed and concise, allowing us to see where savings could be made, or changes we could make to assist us going forward. 

“For 20 minutes effort to get the details over to the auditors, we were shown where we could save money on our mobile phone services, which has been vital in assisting the trust.”

The benefits

By conducting the audit, NHS trusts in England can unlock a multitude of benefits that will help promote the responsible use of digital resources and access more resources that can be distributed to patient care and improvements. 

Some of the advantages trusts will be able to experience include:

• Eliminate costs from inappropriate tariffs/ services and wastage from inactive lines 
• Greater estate security
• Audits are quick to complete 
• Identify cost comparison with new framework rates, allowing customers to save up to 70%
• Minimise extra costs by recycling handsets
• Release cash through unused devices 

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