In the heart of bustling London, I had the privilege of sitting down with Sarah Mitchell, a dedicated team leader at NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS). As we settled into the cosy corner of a local café, Sarah’s enthusiasm for her role and the organisation was immediately apparent. Our discussion provided a fascinating glimpse into the intricacies of NHS SBS, a joint venture between the Department of Health and Sopra Steria, and the impact it’s having within the NHS framework.
“NHS SBS is like the unsung hero of the NHS,” Sarah began, sipping her coffee. “We provide essential business support services that keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on what they do best – taking care of patients.”
Sarah explained that NHS SBS is the market leader in business support, offering an array of shared corporate solutions to NHS organisations across the country. These services include finance and accounting, procurement, workforce management, and a range of other back-office functions. The goal, she emphasised, is to unlock long-term efficiencies that can be reinvested into patient care.
“Imagine trying to operate a hospital without a reliable payroll system, or without streamlined procurement processes to ensure that essential supplies are available when needed,” Sarah illustrated. “That’s where we step in. We help NHS organisations achieve more together than they could alone.”
Sarah’s journey with NHS SBS started over a decade ago. She recounted her early days with a nostalgic gleam in her eye, describing how the organisation has evolved to meet the increasingly complex needs of the NHS. “When I first joined, we were primarily focused on finance and accounting. But as the NHS has grown and transformed, so have we. Our solutions are co-created with and for the NHS, allowing us to support complex transformation programmes.”
She spoke passionately about the collaborative nature of her work. “One of the things I love most is that our solutions are designed with input from the NHS itself. We work closely with healthcare professionals to understand their challenges and develop tailored solutions. It’s a partnership in every sense of the word.”
I was curious about the tangible impact of these services on patient care. Sarah leaned forward, keen to explain. “By streamlining processes and reducing administrative burdens, we enable NHS staff to dedicate more time and resources to patient care. It’s all about making the system as efficient as possible so that patients receive the best possible outcomes.”
Sarah shared an example of a recent project where NHS SBS played a pivotal role in transforming the procurement process for a major NHS Trust. “We helped them implement a digital procurement solution that not only saved them money but also improved the speed and accuracy of their supply chain. This meant that crucial medical supplies were always available when needed, directly benefiting patient care.”
As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Sarah about her vision for the future of NHS SBS. She smiled thoughtfully. “I see us continuing to innovate and expand our services. The NHS is always evolving, and we need to evolve with it. Our focus will remain on delivering value and supporting the NHS in its mission to provide world-class healthcare.”
Sarah’s insights painted a vivid picture of NHS SBS as an indispensable part of the NHS family. It was clear from our discussion that the organisation is committed to playing a crucial role in the ongoing transformation of healthcare services in the UK, ensuring that they remain efficient, effective, and patient-focused.
As I left the café, I couldn’t help but reflect on the vital work being done behind the scenes by organisations like NHS SBS. In an ever-changing healthcare landscape, their shared solutions truly are designed with the NHS in mind, fostering a collaborative spirit that benefits us all.
Bram Best
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