Reducing Single-Use Medical Devices: Research and Implementation Support

The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking an external provider to deliver comprehensive support for the Design for Life National Reduce and Reuse Campaign Programme. This initiative aims to transition the NHS away from avoidable single-use medical technology products by 2045 through adoption of reusable alternatives. The provider will support the soft launch pilots and national roll-out of priority reusable products including tourniquets, blood pressure cuffs, theatre caps, and sharps bins, with future investigation into scissors, medical textiles, and A&E suture kits. Key responsibilities include: - Recruiting and supporting 15-20 NHS Trusts to participate in soft launch pilots - Providing training on sustainability, circular economy principles, quality improvement, and data capture - Conducting quality, equality, patient impact, and health economic assessments - Assessing behavioural and adoption barriers across clinical, estates, commercial, and leadership teams - Developing adoption metrics, implementation guidance, toolkits, and recommendations Successful suppliers should demonstrate multidisciplinary expertise in NHS engagement, sustainability, medical technology adoption, quality improvement, behavioural insights, health economics, data analysis, infection prevention and control, and patient safety. Contract value: £556,224 including VAT (£213,520 for initial projects, with additional scope up to £250,000).