NHS Supply Chain has announced the appointment of Sir James Mackey as chairman of the NHS Customer Board for Procurement and Supply.
Current chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, he will attend his first meeting in December, with the aim of taking over the chairmanship from Sir Ian Carruthers OBE in 2021.
The NHS Customer Board for Procurement and Supply aims to influence and lead procurement strategy by engaging with the senior stakeholders who understand the challenges faced by the NHS.
The board has a particular focus on the new NHS Supply Chain operating model and it oversees four regional boards, North, Midlands, South and London.
Sir James said: “I am delighted to be joining the board and very keen to ensure NHS trusts’ views on procurement are reflected within the organisation’s plan in order to influence the procurement landscape.
COVID-19 has impacted on us all and placed even more importance on a resilient, effective, and efficient NHS supply chain
“COVID-19 has impacted on us all and placed even more importance on a resilient, effective, and efficient NHS supply chain.
“In addition, the NHS should be focused on what we should be doing as a system to support areas such as local and national economic recovery, linked to where products are procured, locally/nationally versus overseas.
“Working together, learning from each other, and enabling the understanding of the wider value that NHS Supply Chain brings to NHS trusts is an opportunity for us all.”