NHS Supply Chain is ramping up its focus on local produce as it begins a drive that will see suppliers ranked on their sustainability credentials.
The body, which procures food for hospitals in England and Wales, has unveiled guidelines to source fresh produce with the longest possible shelf life while considering sustainable practices.
The organisation procures 50- 60 per cent of food for hospitals in England and Wales - making it the largest supplier of food to the NHS.
It employs a “progressive procurement model” for food which is underpinned by the Ethical Trade Initiative’s base code as well as its own code of conduct.
In the updated measures, potential food suppliers to the NHS are scored upon their sustainable credentials - with greener companies gaining higher scores.
Suppliers must now show accountability in a commitment to reduce food miles, reduce carbon emissions and unnecessary packaging as well as looking at seasonal produce availability and sourcing product with optimum shelf life.
A spokesperson explained: “Around 75 per cent of all fruit and vegetables that we supply are currently produced domestically. We anticipate this number to increase with our new tender criteria, which will give hospitals much greater access to locally sourced produce in season with a higher percentage of SMEs.”
Keith Hinchcliffe, food trading manager at NHS Supply Chain, said: “As a responsible supplier we are a strong supporter of sustainable practices. By implementing strong ethical standards across all food contracts and encouraging local suppliers and SMEs to bid for contracts, our progressive approach is leading the way within the public sector,” says
“We have worked hard to introduce a process that will increase the amount of fresh nutritious food available for patients and offer more opportunities for small businesses to tender for contracts.”
While NHS Supply Chain tenders on a national basis, most of its fresh supplies come from either local or regional suppliers.
Hinchliffe adds: “Through our fresh fruit and vegetable contract, trusts around England have the option of buying from over 35 local suppliers - this means that wherever they are in the country, they can source their 5 A DAY locally.”
In its annual report on public sector food, DEFRA found that 95 per cent of fresh food contracts through the NHS Supply Chain offered farm assured products, and 69 per cent is produced in the UK.
NHS Supply Chain is also looking at rolling out the Red Tractor Farm Assurance scheme across its produce lines. The scheme is designed to ensure that best practice in farming standards are followed and, as such, the resulting products maintain a consistently high standard in quality, traceability and food safety.
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