Regional engagement
The Pharmacy team takes part in key regional networks and meetings. This includes:
- the Pharmacy Eastern Network, where the team updates primary and secondary care colleagues on available frameworks and support
- the Homecare Sourcing Group, where the team shares updates and gathers feedback from trusts
- the East Anglia, Essex and Shires Consortia, where the team provides regular Hub updates
- weekly medicines supply discussions, where regional issues are raised and escalated
- stakeholder groups for Hub-led frameworks, including Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services
- trust-level meetings, including medical gas groups.
National engagement
The Hub represents the region in several national groups. These include:
- the National Home Oxygen Service stakeholder group
- the Collaborative Hub Lead Group and NHS Pharmacy Procurement Lead Network
- the Healthcare Distribution Association, where the team represents NHS pharmacy supply interests.
The Pharmacy team also joins NHS England strategic calls and contributes to national procurement discussions.
Recent activity
On 20 May 2026, the Hub attended the New Hospital Programme (NHP) Medicines Technology Adoption Industry Event in London. The workshop brought together NHS trust colleagues and manufacturers to share insight on the selection, procurement and implementation of medicines technology.
The workshop aimed to:
- present findings from recent workshops with NHS trust colleagues on medicines technology selection, procurement and operationalisation;
- gather feedback from manufacturers to inform and support future implementation.
It was valuable to explore the range of automation available and how it could support delivery within the New Hospital Programme 2.0.
– Richard Dixon-Ramsey, Procurement Specialist – Pharmacy and Healthcare
The Hub played an active role in supporting supplier engagement at the event.
Feedback from the medicines technology workshop highlighted a clear ambition to standardise how pharmacy services are designed and delivered across the New Hospital Programme (NHP) 2.0. Over the next four to five years, this includes a shift towards individual patient rooms supported by consistent supplier approaches and greater use of automation. Suppliers shared insight through one-to-one engagement sessions, helping to shape how pharmacy processes can improve patient flow, stock control and safety across new hospital builds.
Discussions also focused on the role of advanced automation in future-ready pharmacy models. Technologies such as robotic dispensing, automated inventory systems and secure storage solutions can support efficient replenishment and real-time stock visibility.
While trusts will lead procurement for new hospitals, the Hub can support this transition through offering such as the Pharmacy Automation Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). The next phase of engagement will bring together both trusts and suppliers to refine how these technologies can be embedded into hospital design, supporting a more consistent and transformational experience for patients and staff.
The vision is transformational. This work encourages new ways of thinking and closer collaboration between medicines suppliers and technology providers. The potential impact on medicines optimisation, workflow improvement and patient care is significant, making this an important and exciting time for the sector.
– Julia Asplin, Assistant Director of Procurement – Pharmacy and Healthcare
Find out more
To find out more about the Pharmacy team’s work and the support available to you, contact: [email protected]
Written by Julia Asplin, Assistant Director of Procurement – Pharmacy and Healthcare and Richard Dixon-Ramsey, Procurement Specialist – Pharmacy and Healthcare