In this month’s feature we Get to know Sandra Atik, Assistant Director of Procurement – Commissioning.
Read the full interview with Sandra below:
Briefly tell us about your role at the Collaborative Procurement Hub.
As Assistant Director, I lead strategic procurement and commissioning support across complex NHS landscapes. My day-to-day involves shaping service models, resolving assurance issues, and supporting transformation. Recent projects include the Interface Commissioning Support offer, supporting NHS colleagues navigate the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). I also support NHSE on projects and oversee their Independent Investigation framework, which we are currently working on for a full refresh of contract in 2026.
Tell us about your career before joining the Collaborative Procurement Hub.
I started out as a dispensing assistant at Kingswood Chemist, then moved to British Telecom before switching sectors to travel. I worked in Customer Relations and later as a holiday rep in Portugal and Menorca. Back in the UK, I joined Addenbrookes Hospital, moved into private healthcare, then aerospace. I started work at the Hub in 2007 on a short-term contract to deliver Lord Darzi’s Equitable Access programme, and I’ve been here ever since.
You have been at the Hub for over 18 years now. How would you summarise your time here?
It’s been a privilege to work with people who genuinely care. I’ve seen the Hub evolve through many changes, but what’s stayed constant is our commitment to supporting the NHS. I’m proud of the relationships we’ve built and the values we uphold; especially fairness, collaboration, and doing the right thing.
What big challenges keep you on your toes?
Navigating NHS financial pressures while ensuring service continuity is a constant challenge. Balancing innovation with affordability, especially in the context of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), keeps me focused. I also work to ensure subcontractor assurance and strategic positioning all while maintaining trust and transparency with stakeholders.
What advice would you give to someone new to NHS procurement/commissioning?
Understand the patient impact on every decision made. Build relationships early, stay curious, and don’t underestimate the value of good governance. Whether you’re a supplier or commissioner, clarity, compliance, and collaboration are key. My motto is “start with the end in mind”, it helps shape better, more sustainable outcomes.
What does strategic commissioning support look like in practice?
It looks like partnership in action. Strategic commissioning support is about working alongside systems to shape services that are responsive, sustainable, and rooted in local priorities. We bring insight and experience, but we also bring curiosity it’s about asking the right questions, listening carefully, and helping teams navigate complexity with confidence. Sometimes that means co-designing new models of care or supporting provider collaboration; other times it’s about offering practical tools and frameworks that help turn ambition into action. It’s this blend of strategic thinking and grounded delivery that makes our support meaningful, and I believe trusted.
How do you ensure the Hub remains relevant in a changing NHS?
We stay relevant by staying close, to our members, to the system, and to the evolving challenges across health and care. The NHS is constantly shifting, and we see that as an opportunity to adapt with purpose. We listen carefully, co-design solutions, and focus on what adds real value not just what’s deliverable. That might mean navigating new policy, enabling transformation, or helping teams build capability; often through practical tools; frameworks crafted to support a specific asks. Our strength lies in being embedded in the system, trusted by those we work with, and focused on what matters most: improving outcomes for patients and populations.
Outside of work, what helps you switch off and recharge after a busy day?
Being near water is my reset button, it’s where I come down and find calm. I love exploring new places with my partner and making great memories together. Good food, a nice glass of wine, and a real log fire when it’s cold are my idea of comfort. I also enjoy walking and quiet time outdoors as well as cheering on the Roses.
Exploring new places and making memories by the water is my favourite way to recharge.
