Finance and Procurement

Finance

NHS Orkney’s Finance Department is based at The Balfour, Foreland Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1NZ.

The purpose of the Finance Department is to manage the funds allocated to NHS Orkney by Scottish Government, ensuring the highest standard of care is provided to the people of Orkney whilst achieving value for money.

Finance department functions include:

• Budget management
• Payment of invoices
• Collection of income
• Administration of patient travel (for further details please see Patient Travel information)
• Management of donated funds (for further information please see our Feedback & Involvement page)

Online payments can be made using our online payment form. To ensure your payment is allocated correctly please provide as much information as possible on the form. Should you make an incorrect payment or require help with your payment please contact the Finance Department by calling 01856 888 020, or emailing ork.debtors@nhs.scot or writing to:

NHS Orkney
Finance Department

The Balfour

Foreland Road

Kirkwall

KW15 1NZ

Procurement

Introduction 

NHS Orkney recognises that effective management of the procurement of goods and services is an important contributing factor in the delivery of cost effective, high quality patient care.

NHS Orkney Procurement provides help and advice on all aspects of buying goods or services for the organisation. We help select the best suppliers and achieve best overall value for money, whilst delivering the right product to the end user on time. 

National Sourcing

NHS Scotland National Procurement provides centralised support, including contracting, warehousing and distribution enabling us to realise substantial economies of scale. We have signed-up to a Scotland-wide initiative to source centrally under nationally negotiated contracts and, wherever possible, consumables are delivered directly from the NHS Scotland National Distribution Centre.

We aim to purchase through nationally negotiated contracts wherever possible with commodities being obtained from the National Distribution Centre to take advantages of economies of scale and centralised warehousing and distribution.​​Information on doing business with the NHS in Scotland is provided in the National Procurement Supplier Guide.

Local Sourcing

In some instances it clearly provides better value, or is only possible to source goods or services locally. Where these purchases are of £3000-£49,999 in value, three quotations will be sought. There is no formal selection process for suppliers for quotations and we use the quick quotes service where applicable within Public Contracts Scotland to advertise these. Not all suppliers will receive a notification via the portal unless we have specifically targeted the suppliers for the quote.

For contracts or purchases of £50,000, NHS Orkney advertises contract opportunities above and below the EU thresholds on the Public Contracts Scotland Portal.

To register as a supplier on the Public Contracts Scotland website and be notified of any suitable contracts which you can then apply for, please follow the link Public Contracts Scotland Portal.

Governance

NHS Orkney buys goods and services in compliance with government policy and the relevant legislation. The procurement process complies with the NHS Orkney’s Standing Financial Instructions and the Public Procurement Regulations.

Procurement Strategy 2020-25

The NHS Orkney Procurement Strategy provides a common framework within which all procurement can be managed.

This strategy sets out clearly the procurement function’s commitments over the next three years.

Link to strategy 

Annual Reports

NHS Orkney Procurement Annual Report details the regulated procurement activities undertaken in Financial Year 2022 - 2023.

Link to Annual Report

NHS Orkney Procurement Annual Report details the regulated procurement activities undertaken in Financial Year 2021 - 2022.

Link to Annual Report

Notes to Suppliers

Whilst we are often already purchasing via established contracts; in the interests of promoting competition and encouraging efficiencies we welcome approaches from suppliers.

Should you wish to discuss the possibility of supplying NHS Orkney, in the first instance you should approach the Procurement Officer.