NHSX developed a new procurement framework for clinical communication tools in the health service – with a pledge of £3 million to contribute to licence costs over the next year.
It has put the framework together with the NHS England National Commercial and Procurement Hub and made it available through its website.
This follows the announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in February of last year that he wanted to phase out the use of pagers in the health service by the end of 2021.
The new framework provides a procurement channel for dedicated clinical facing communication and task management tools, and enables organisations to make a direct award or carry out a mini-competition to meet their requirements.
NHSX said the suppliers have been assessed to ensure they meet all the legislative requirements.
Accelerated need
Pip Hodgson, an A&E nurse and clinical adviser to NHSX, commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to urgently deliver on this commitment and NHSX has led on the development of a new Clinical Communication Tools framework to make it easier for staff, trusts and commissioners to use products, solutions and software from a range of approved suppliers that best meet their needs.”
She added that many trusts still rely too heavily on pagers, telephone calls and personal messaging platforms.
NHSX and the NHS Procurement Hub have planned to hold a webinar today as the first step in explaining the framework in more detail and the allocation of the £3 million.
The move marks a change in emphasis for England’s NHS. Two years ago a number of bodies published guidance on best practice in using commercial messaging apps, but the new framework throws the spotlight towards the use of dedicated tools.
Image from Imperial College NHS Trust
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