NHS digital platform identifies millions of savings in first year

A Crown Commercial Service-funded digital platform used by the NHS has identified millions of pounds of potential savings in its first year.

The roll out of the Atamis e-commerce system allows all health sector bodies to use the same system for pipeline management, tendering, supplier and contract management, delivering greater commercial efficiency and resilience. 

 It has eliminated manual processes and saved millions of pounds in administration costs. NHS services in North West London were able to identify £34 million of savings by grouping 9 organisations on the same e-commerce system. This has helped them to identify £34 million of potential savings in the past 12 months.

By providing a unified view of the data, it has also freed up capacity in NHS teams while helping health services run more efficiently. 

The Atamis platform, which is funded by the Crown Commercial Service in the Cabinet Office, has already seen 258 NHS organisations sign up with a further target of 90% by 2025. 

It currently holds a pipeline of £24bn and active contracts with a value of £108bn.

A force for good 

Cabinet Office Parliamentary Secretary Alex Burghart said the platform is part of wider to plan to make efficiencies for the taxpayer and meet the PM's goal of reducing national debt. 

“This platform, funded by the Crown Commercial Service in the Cabinet Office, is a major force for good, helping public bodies like NHS Trusts identify significant savings across the country as we continue working to deliver on the Prime Minister’s commitment to cut waiting lists in the health service.”

Health Minister Lord Markham added: "I’m pleased to see the success so far of this digital platform, which is already helping NHS organisations across England identify savings opportunities.

"We are committed to using the latest technology and new ways of working to increase efficiencies, save staff time, and deliver value for money."