Digital leap at EOECPH
On 24 September 2025, colleagues from the East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub came together for our Strategy Day. The theme, Digital Leap – Turning Change into Opportunity, explored how the Hub can continue to evolve in a changing NHS landscape and how technology, collaboration and innovation can shape our future.
The day opened with reflections on the Hub’s journey so far, celebrating progress made through previous strategy days and reinforcing our shared purpose and values. These discussions underlined our commitment to delivering excellence and innovation in procurement, while maintaining our strong culture of collaboration.
We were pleased to welcome Mark Avery, Director of Health Informatics at Health Innovation East, who gave a thought-provoking keynote on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. His session highlighted the opportunities AI brings (from supporting smarter procurement to enabling better patient outcomes), while reminding us that robust governance and ethical frameworks are essential for safe adoption of AI.
The Hub’s own teams also shared best practice around how we incorporate AI tools in our day-to-day work. From streamlining administrative tasks to supporting innovation in framework development, these examples showed how digital solutions can free up time and create space for more strategic thinking.
Another key focus was how we can adapt our ways of working in a hybrid environment. The pandemic shifted expectations across the NHS, and our discussions explored how digital collaboration tools can strengthen teamwork, improve transparency and help us remain agile in the face of growing pressures.
The day concluded with an honest look at our successes and challenges. From successful procurement and stronger engagement with NHS trusts, to the ongoing need to adapt to rapid digital change, it was clear that the Hub is both ambitious and pragmatic in planning for the future.
Our Strategy Day was an opportunity to reflect on what we already do right and to look ahead. By embracing innovation while staying true to our values, the Hub is committed to continuing to provide trusted, collaborative procurement solutions that deliver value for the NHS – today and into the digital future.