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David Edmonds, Chairman, NHS Shared Business Services |
20 Years of NHS SBS: From Bold Beginnings to a Transformative Force in Healthcare
Reaching 20 years in business is no small feat, particularly in the dynamic healthcare sector. The organisation I chair, NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) exemplifies resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership. Our journey highlights adaptability, vision, and a strong organisational culture, demonstrating how to thrive amidst change
From Visionary Beginnings to Transformational Impact
Established in 2005 as a joint venture between the Department of Health and Social Care and Sopra Steria, NHS SBS aimed to centralise back-office operations and support the NHS in delivering patient care more effectively.
Over two decades, we’ve become the NHS’s trusted partner for efficient, digitally driven shared services. Managing £352bn in NHS client cash annually and leading initiatives like the Integrated Single Financial Environment – the largest system of its kind in Europe – enabling NHS England’s core finance processes, NHS SBS has redefined operational excellence.
The Darzi Report highlights challenges like workforce shortages and post-pandemic pressures, underscoring the need for adaptability and innovation. NHS SBS embodies these qualities, delivering transformative solutions like Enhanced Purchase to Pay (EP2P) procurement systems and sustainability efforts aligned with NHS Net Zero goals. These initiatives have achieved efficiency savings of up to 58% for clients, advancing reform and modernisation.
Key Drivers of Success
NHS SBS’s 20-year journey reflects timeless principles:
- Clear Vision and Leadership: A clear purpose and strong leadership have been central to our journey, enabling us to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities.
- Adaptability and Innovation: As a digital transformation leader, NHS SBS has introduced cloud-based services and advanced cutting-edge systems like a single finance platform for the NHS, Enhanced Purchase to Pay and Robotic Process Automation, helping the NHS automate everything from doctors’ rotas, recruitment letters and invoice consolidation, through to providing smarter payroll solutions.
Our innovative approach and solutions have helped save the NHS £1bn since 2005, minimised duplication, streamlined processes and could unlock £3bn in annual savings if all Integrated Care Systems adopted NHS SBS services.
- Organisational Culture: Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our Great Place to Work certification and low attrition rates. Collaboration, growth opportunities, and shared values drive productivity and attract talent.
- Customer-Centric Focus: By placing the NHS’s needs at the heart of our strategy, we deliver seamless services that enhance performance. The rise in our Net Promoter Score from +48 to +55 underscores our investment in service excellence, and we’ve our eye on a target of +70 by 2027.
- Financial Discipline and Sustainability: NHS SBS balances cost management with strategic investment in technology and innovation. Reducing emissions by 28% further demonstrates our forward-thinking ethos.
Navigating Seismic Changes
The abolition of NHS England brings transformative changes, raising questions around governance and efficiency. Alongside the pressures in the Darzi Report, the NHS faces a pivotal moment of transition.
NHS SBS is well-positioned to support this evolution. Leveraging scalable services and public-private expertise, we enable seamless adaptation to new structures.
In a digitally driven era, our role in developing integrated, data-led solutions is vital. Simplifying, standardising, and scaling processes aligns with the needs of a healthcare system in transition, ensuring we remain a cornerstone of operational resilience.
A Legacy of Leadership, Resilience, and Purpose
NHS SBS’s 20-year journey reflects the organisation’s ability to innovate and deliver impact, made possible by the dedication and tenacity of our people, whose public service ethos continues to inspire.
Despite challenges, NHS SBS has been a force for good—providing critical infrastructure, driving reform, and embracing sustainable practices that benefit the NHS and its communities.
As the healthcare landscape evolves, our principles of vision, operational excellence, and sustainability position us as a long-term partner for the NHS.
Looking ahead, our focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact ensures the next chapter will be just as transformative. Here’s to 20 years of resilience and continuing to make a difference in healthcare.
