25Avalon
MaisieD I worked in Area Supplies at the same time and we did most of the purchasing for our catering departments with approval from our catering officers who didn’t always buy cheapest but certainly, with arranged bulk contracts, still way cheaper than your local shop.They knew that serving decent food helped patient’s with their recovery. I lament their loss and loss it is.
The difference for me years ago was that I wasn't buying enough to be able to sort my own bulk contract, and red tape meant I was stuck with NHS supply. Feeding say, 1000 staff and patients was/is vastly different than buying food for small, bedded rehab units where we were trying to teach people how to cook and care for themselves. What was I going to do with a pallet of rice? The issue was that I held the budgets but had no authority to spend them where I chose. The food thing was just an example to illustrate the problem.
The fact that three of us have vastly differing experience with how the NHS spends money is probably evidence that it needs to spend its money more wisely I think.