NEW FIRE SERVICES’ PROCUREMENT BODY ISSUES FIRST CONTRACTS

The national body set up to handle equipment procurement for Fire Services across England has awarded its first major contracts. Firebuy Ltd., which was established in April last year as part of the drive for efficiency and closer operational working between the 46 services, has issued the contacts for a range of pumping appliances.

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DIFFERENCES ON DOCTORS’ SELF INTEREST AIRED BY EXPERTS

A leading academic claims today that doctors’ self-interest has seen big increases in earnings for consultants and GPs with little improvement being achieved for patients. Alan Maynard, Professor of Health Economics at York University sets out the argument in the BMJ but it is countered by London GP Laurence Buckman, who says proper pay and conditions are the right of everyone – even in the public sector.

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By Stephen Butcher Sharing services and sharing the procurement of goods and services has the potential for widespread and substantial cost cutting. Despite this potential for efficiency gains, public sector organisations have been slow to embrace the sharing concept. The author looks at the cultural and operational barriers that inhibit progress and describes how they have been overcome by a specialist not for profit organisation bringing sharing expertise to collaborating organisations.