MPCE Professionals Essential in NHS MedTech Procurement

Commenting on the plan for the NHS to invest in pioneering tech to drive down waiting lists - GOV.UK IPEM Chief Executive, Gill Collinson, said:

"The NHS’s Plan for Change signals a fundamental shift in how the NHS will invest in medical technology, prioritising patient outcomes, safety, and long-term value over short-term cost.

This move towards value-based procurement will transform how medtech is chosen, implemented, and evaluated across the health service. IPEM members will be at the forefront of making it work.

As the professionals who ensure medical technology is safe, effective and delivers measurable improvements for patients, medical physicists and clinical engineers are uniquely placed to lead this change.

Our members will be, and are, central to:

• Designing and delivering robust evidence to show which technologies truly benefit patients and staff.
• Leading technical assessments to ensure equipment performs as intended and delivers value over its lifecycle.
• Embedding safety, interoperability and sustainability into every procurement decision.
• Advising NHS trusts and suppliers on how to apply scientific and engineering insight to achieve better outcomes and better value.

It is therefore essential that Medical Physicists and Clinical Engineers are involved key procurement decisions, offering their vital expertise for the benefit of patients and the service.

The NHS currently spends around £10 billion a year on medtech. By harnessing the expertise of our community, we can ensure this investment delivers maximum benefit, helping to cut waiting lists, improve safety, and support the NHS to meet its productivity ambitions.

This is an exciting and defining moment for innovation in healthcare and IPEM’s members will be leading the transformation, shaping how technology supports patient care and building an NHS that is smarter, safer and more sustainable."