Insourcing Frameworks UK Healthcare: What They Are and Where to Find Them

In the UK’s healthcare system, insourcing has become an increasingly popular solution to:

• address workforce shortages
• tackle patient backlogs
• and provide essential services without relying on external private providers.

Insourcing allows NHS and healthcare organizations to use their own facilities, with external teams for clinical services. This model helps:

• reduce waiting times
• manage patient loads
• and improve overall service delivery
• all while maintaining control and oversight of the quality of care provided.

We’ll explore:

• what healthcare insourcing frameworks are
• their benefits
• and where healthcare providers can find relevant frameworks in the UK.

What Are Healthcare Insourcing Frameworks?

Insourcing frameworks in healthcare are pre-established agreements or contracts that outline the terms under which external teams of healthcare professionals can be brought into an NHS trust or healthcare organization to provide services. Unlike outsourcing, insourcing allows work to be conducted within the healthcare organization’s own facilities. This model is particularly useful for addressing short-term needs, such as tackling waiting list backlogs or filling staffing gaps during peak times.

These frameworks typically involve detailed guidelines about:

• Service Delivery: What types of clinical or non-clinical services the external team will provide.
• Standards of Care: Ensuring that any insourced team adheres to the same quality and safety standards as the internal staff.
• Financial Agreements: Payment terms for the insourced services, often structured to be cost-effective compared to traditional outsourcing.
• Staffing and Resources: Clarifying which resources will be provided by the host healthcare organization and which by the insourcing team.
• Duration and Flexibility: How long the insourcing services will last and how flexible the arrangement can be, based on evolving needs.

Benefits of Healthcare Insourcing

The insourcing model offers several advantages, especially for public healthcare organizations like the NHS:

1. Reduced Waiting Times
   • Insourcing allows organizations to use external healthcare professionals to work in their facilities, often outside of normal operating hours (evenings, weekends), to quickly reduce waiting lists and improve patient outcomes.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
   • Compared to outsourcing patients to private hospitals, insourcing enables healthcare providers to control costs by utilizing their existing infrastructure and only bringing in external expertise when needed.
3. Quality Control
   • Because insourcing takes place within the NHS or the healthcare organization’s premises, quality assurance processes can be maintained, ensuring that care standards and patient safety measures are upheld.
4. Flexibility
   • Insourcing is often used as a short-term solution, providing healthcare providers with flexibility to scale services up or down depending on patient demand and available resources.
5. Workforce Support
   • Insourcing can help support overstretched internal teams, preventing burnout by bringing in external teams to share the workload during periods of high demand.

Where to Find UK Insourcing Frameworks for Healthcare

Several key organizations and platforms provide access to insourcing frameworks for healthcare in the UK. These frameworks are often tendered through public sector procurement platforms, making it easy for healthcare organizations to find and utilize pre-approved providers.

Here are some of the leading sources for healthcare insourcing frameworks:

1. Crown Commercial Service (CCS)

   • The CCS is a government agency that provides commercial services to the public sector, including the NHS. They offer a range of frameworks that support healthcare insourcing, particularly in clinical services and staffing solutions. Trusts can use the CCS frameworks to quickly and easily access approved insourcing providers.

2. HealthTrust Europe (HTE)

   • HealthTrust Europe is a group purchasing organization that provides healthcare procurement services to the NHS and other healthcare bodies. Their frameworks cover a wide range of clinical and non-clinical services, including insourcing solutions aimed at addressing capacity challenges and improving patient outcomes.

3. NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS)

   • NHS SBS offers a variety of procurement frameworks designed to help NHS trusts and healthcare organizations efficiently source clinical services, including insourcing. Their frameworks provide access to a pre-vetted list of insourcing providers, ensuring high-quality service delivery and cost-efficiency.

4. Procurement for Housing (PfH)

   • PfH is a procurement organization that offers insourcing frameworks specifically for healthcare facilities. They provide access to providers that specialize in both clinical and non-clinical insourcing services, including maintenance, logistics, and other healthcare support services.

5. Local Government Procurement Portals

   • Many local councils and healthcare trusts use regional procurement portals to publish insourcing opportunities. These portals offer frameworks tailored to specific regions or healthcare specialties, making it easier for local healthcare providers to find appropriate solutions.

6. Askabidwriter.com

   • Askabidwriter.com is a comprehensive online platform that aggregates public sector tender opportunities, including insourcing frameworks for healthcare. It allows healthcare providers to search for and bid on frameworks that suit their insourcing needs.

How to Use Insourcing Frameworks Effectively

Once healthcare providers have access to the relevant insourcing frameworks, there are several steps they can take to ensure successful implementation:

1. Assess Needs and Capacity
   • Before choosing an insourcing provider, healthcare organizations should conduct a thorough assessment of their internal capabilities and identify specific gaps where external support is needed, whether for clinical backlogs, staff shortages, or specialized services.
2. Select the Right Provider
   • Utilizing pre-approved providers through established frameworks helps ensure that healthcare organizations choose insourcing partners that meet quality, safety, and financial standards.
3. Define Clear Objectives
   • Set clear goals for the insourcing project, such as reducing waiting times for specific procedures or addressing staff shortages. This will help measure the success of the insourcing arrangement.
4. Monitor Performance
   • Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the insourcing provider’s performance and ensure that patient care standards are being met. Regular communication with the insourcing team is crucial for resolving any issues quickly.
5. Adapt and Scale
   • Insourcing frameworks are designed to be flexible. Healthcare providers can adjust the scope of services as patient demand changes, ensuring they continue to meet operational needs without overburdening internal staff.

Conclusion

Insourcing frameworks offer a practical, cost-effective solution for UK healthcare organizations looking to tackle workforce shortages, manage patient backlogs, and maintain high standards of care. By utilizing frameworks from trusted organizations such as CCS, HealthTrust Europe, and NHS SBS, healthcare providers can quickly access qualified insourcing teams while keeping service delivery in-house. Whether addressing short-term needs or long-term capacity planning, insourcing is a valuable tool in ensuring that the UK’s healthcare system continues to deliver high-quality care efficiently and sustainably.

How Safeguard Business Support Can Help!

Safeguard Business Support assists businesses in securing a place on UK insourcing frameworks by navigating through the complex compliance processes. With extensive experience in bid writing, Safeguard helps businesses prepare compelling and compliant submissions. Ensuring they meet the necessary regulatory, quality, and financial criteria required by insourcing frameworks. We support businesses in:

• developing strong value propositions
• highlighting their strengths in delivering high-quality services
• and ensuring they align with the specific needs of healthcare organizations.

By partnering with Safeguard, you can improve your chances of winning a place on these competitive frameworks.