NHS England has launched a consultation exploring the potential costs and benefits of centralising the procurement and supply of adult flu vaccines. This marks a significant step towards achieving the ambitions of the NHS England Vaccination Strategy, which aims to enhance efficiency and responsiveness in vaccine supply. However, for General Practice, this proposed shift could have major financial implications—and your voice is critical.
Why This Matters for General Practice
Currently, the procurement and supply of flu vaccines operate under a model where practices purchase vaccines and reclaim the costs, creating an opportunity to generate essential profit. This profit, derived from purchasing vaccines at negotiated rates and reclaiming costs through the FP34D claim, helps to offset the often minimal funding provided for the delivery of the seasonal influenza programme.
By centralising procurement, practices could lose this vital income stream, further straining already tight budgets. Without this additional funding, many practices may find the flu vaccination programme financially unviable, especially when considering the staffing and logistical efforts required to deliver it effectively.
Dispelling the Myths of Current Procurement
The consultation seeks to understand the current model’s effectiveness. Let’s be clear—while the administrative burden of ordering vaccines is small, practices already have safeguards like “sale or return” arrangements to mitigate the risk of over-ordering. This ensures practices can manage supply efficiently without wastage while maintaining their financial footing.
Moving to a centralised model would remove this flexibility and financial incentive, making it even harder for practices to balance their books in an already challenging financial climate.
Your Voice is Needed
To ensure that General Practice is heard, NHS England is inviting providers of the adult flu vaccination service to complete a 15–20 minute anonymous questionnaire by Tuesday 17 December 2024. This is your opportunity to share your experiences with the current procurement model and its role in supporting the flu programme. Your feedback will shape the decisions made around vaccine supply and ensure that the realities of General Practice are considered.
Take Action Now
Protect the financial viability of flu vaccinations in General Practice by completing the questionnaire today. Let’s ensure that the efficiencies of centralisation are not achieved at the expense of already underfunded practices. Complete the questionnaire here: Central Flu Procurement Feedback Form. (Just be cautious of sharing purchase prices and discounts that may be considered commercially sensitive)
Final Thoughts
Flu vaccination delivery is a cornerstone of preventative care in General Practice. However, it must remain financially sustainable to ensure it can continue to be delivered effectively. By participating in this consultation, you are safeguarding not just the financial health of your practice but also the quality and accessibility of care for your patients.
Together, let’s advocate for a model that works for General Practice, ensuring that future changes enhance, rather than hinder, our ability to deliver high-quality care.