This consultation sought views on proposed regulations and guidance to strengthen action against modern slavery in NHS procurement. Building on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the Health and Care Act 2022, the proposals introduced new legal duties for public bodies procuring goods and services for the NHS to assess and address risks of modern slavery in their supply chains.

For BHTA members, the proposals highlighted increased expectations around supply chain due diligence, transparency and compliance, particularly for suppliers working with NHS organisations. The measures aimed to ensure that NHS procurement activities are free from unethical labour practices, while aligning with wider government policy on tackling modern slavery.

The consultation also outlined how these duties would be supported by national guidance and applied across public sector procurement in England. The BHTA encouraged members to consider the potential operational and reporting implications for their organisations.

Download the relevant documents:

Click HERE to download the consultation document.

Click HERE to download the BHTA response to this consultation.

This consultation sought views on proposals to develop a more integrated, rules-based and predictable pathway for the evaluation, funding and commissioning of medical technologies in the NHS. The proposed pathway aimed to cover the full lifecycle of medtech, from early innovation through to routine adoption, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and delivering better value for the NHS.

For BHTA members, the proposals signalled a move towards clearer and more structured market access processes, with a stronger role for NICE in linking clinical and cost-effectiveness assessments to funding decisions. The approach aimed to provide greater certainty for innovators and suppliers, while supporting faster and more consistent adoption of effective technologies.

The consultation formed part of the wider Medtech Strategy and broader NHS reforms, with an emphasis on reducing complexity, supporting innovation and enabling more value-driven decision-making. The BHTA encouraged members to consider the potential implications for evidence generation, market access and adoption.

Download the relevant documents:

Click HERE to download the consultation document.

Click HERE to download the BHTA response to this consultation.

This consultation sought views on proposed changes to the NHS Standard Contract for 2024/25. The Contract is published by NHS England and used by commissioners to procure most healthcare services in England, excluding primary care. It includes both a full-length version and a shorter-form version for less complex and lower-value services.

The consultation outlined material updates to both versions of the Contract and invited feedback from stakeholders, along with wider suggestions for improvement. Responses were submitted via the NHS England Consultation Hub, supported by a stakeholder response collation document to gather input across organisations.

The BHTA encouraged members to review the proposed changes and consider any potential implications for their organisations.

Download the relevant documents:

Click HERE to download the consultation document.

Click HERE to download the BHTA response to this consultation.

This consultation sought views on proposed changes to the NHS Standard Contract for 2022/23, which was used by NHS commissioners to procure most healthcare services in England, excluding primary care. It covered both the full-length contract and a shorter-form version for less complex services.

The updates were set in the context of the Health and Care Act reforms, which introduced Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) as the new commissioners responsible for arranging services and contracting with providers. The NHS Standard Contract continued to provide a nationally mandated framework to ensure consistent standards, reduce administrative burden, and support fair competition between NHS and independent providers.

The consultation invited feedback on the proposed changes and broader improvements, with the Contract expected to evolve over time to reduce bureaucracy and support greater integration across local health systems.

Download the relevant documents:

Click HERE to download the consultation document.

Click HERE to download the BHTA response to this consultation.

Medequip is the UK’s market-leading provider of community equipment and complementary services to local authorities and the National Health Service (NHS). Medequip’s services enable individuals to live independently at home for longer, alleviating pressures on the NHS and other healthcare services. Located in Harmondsworth, close to Heathrow Airport, and with turnover of over £200m, Medequip employs more than 1,000 people.

James Ibbotson, CEO of Medequip looks forward to the collaboration with Medux. “This partnership is a major step forward for Medequip. By working alongside Medux, we can capitalise on its vast experience as the market leader in the Netherlands and further accelerate Medequip’s growth. Medux has an impressive reputation in the Dutch equipment market, and we look forward to our exciting future together with great confidence.”

Strengthening services

With a shared focus on ensuring healthcare remains affordable and accessible with an efficient supply of products and services, both Medux and Medequip have strong reputations amongst end users, prescribers and clients. In the Netherlands, Medux supplies more than 1.5 million medical devices annually via its brands Medipoint, HartingBank and Atlas Kidtech. In the UK Medequip visits more than 1.3 million customers every year delivering community equipment services, technology enabled care services (TECS), planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and minor adaptations. By joining forces, Medux and Medequip will strengthen their services and broaden their customer bases.

Significant opportunities

“This is a big step forward for Medux”, says Jop Pollmann, CEO of Medux, “We are strengthening our position in the European equipment market; a market that is growing rapidly due to the ageing population and government policies to enable people to live at home independently for longer. This is something we are very familiar with and which provides significant opportunities for both Medux and Medequip.”

David Weavers, Partner at Clearwater International who advised Medequip states: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the Siddall family and the management team of Medequip. Medux has committed to further investment which will benefit the company and its various stakeholders. We wish both companies every success for the future.”

The organisations will continue to operate independently of each other. The proposed structure was submitted to the Dutch Healthcare Authority (Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit, NZa) for approval, the relevant regulatory authority in the Netherlands.