NHS Commercial Solutions is planning to add AI to its procurement framework for digital dictation, voice recognition and outsourced transcription services.
The non-profit procurement organisation for NHS bodies has published a planned procurement notice indicating that the framework – which it says is endorsed by NHS England – will run for eight years from January 2026 and could be worth up to £400 million plus VAT over an eight-year timeframe.
It highlights the need for the relevant technologies in the health service and says the capabilities will be enhanced by the ongoing development of AI and cloud based solutions.
This has led to the plan for six lots in the new framework: one each for digital dictation services with and without AI; one each for outsourced transcription services with and without AI; one for products and services such as hardware, software and consultancy; and another for a managed service solution including the scope of the dictation and transcription lots.
The framework will be available for all NHS and public sector organisations in the UK.
The market notice states that over the past four years 14 trusts have procured services valued at £9.5 million through the existing framework.
