The NHS is under constant pressure to cut waiting times while keeping care safe and accessible. Hospitals across the UK are looking for practical ways to make better use of their theatres, clinics, and diagnostic units.
One approach gaining attention is insourcing, where external clinical teams run extra sessions inside NHS facilities. This allows trusts to treat more patients without moving them to private hospitals.
In this blog, we will cover what insourcing is in the NHS, how it works, its benefits, and compare it with outsourcing.
What Is Insourcing in the NHS?
Insourcing in the NHS refers to bringing external clinical teams into NHS hospitals to deliver care using the trust’s facilities and equipment. Instead of sending patients to another site, the service takes place inside the hospital, often during evenings or weekends when theatres and clinics would otherwise sit idle.
This approach is different from hiring extra locum doctors or outsourcing patients to private hospitals. In insourcing, the provider supplies a complete clinical team, including consultants, nurses, and support staff, who work alongside existing NHS staff. The trust keeps control of governance, records, and patient pathways.
The main purpose is to boost capacity without building new wards or transferring patients elsewhere. It gives trusts a way to reduce waiting lists quickly, while still keeping treatment under NHS oversight. Because services are delivered on familiar sites, patients also benefit from continuity and a smoother care experience.
How the NHS Insourcing Framework Works
The NHS insourcing framework is a formal route that trusts use to buy insourcing services safely and quickly. Approved providers are listed on national frameworks such as NHS Shared Business Services, Crown Commercial Service, and the NHS Workforce Alliance.
These frameworks are built to make procurement straightforward. They pre-check suppliers for quality, compliance, and pricing so that trusts do not need to run a lengthy tender process. Once a provider is chosen, the trust can set up a contract through a call-off agreement.
This process ensures that insourcing projects follow NHS standards, keep patient safety at the centre, and allow services to begin without unnecessary delay. It gives trusts confidence that the extra capacity brought in will meet regulatory and clinical requirements.
Benefits of Insourcing in Healthcare for NHS Trusts
- Faster reduction in waiting lists: Insourcing teams can run extra sessions during evenings or weekends, helping trusts treat more patients without needing new buildings or long-term hires.
- Better use of hospital facilities: Clinics, theatres, and diagnostic units that would otherwise be unused outside normal hours are kept active, giving hospitals maximum value from their estate.
- Continuity of care: Because treatment happens inside NHS hospitals, patients stay on familiar sites and records remain within the trust’s systems, avoiding the disruption that comes with outsourcing.
- Improved patient experience: Patients do not need to travel to private hospitals or external providers, which reduces stress and supports smoother follow-up care.
- Cost-effective option: By using the trust’s existing infrastructure and equipment, insourcing can often provide additional capacity at a lower cost compared with sending patients off-site.
- Supports RTT performance: Extra capacity helps trusts meet referral-to-treatment targets and demonstrate progress against national standards.
Common Specialities Where Insourcing Is Used
Endoscopy
Endoscopy is one of the most common areas for insourcing. Trusts often face long waits for diagnostic scopes, which can delay treatment across several conditions. By bringing in full endoscopy teams during weekends, hospitals can clear backlogs faster while using their own suites and equipment.
Ophthalmology
Demand for cataract and other eye procedures continues to rise. Insourced ophthalmology services allow NHS hospitals to run additional theatre lists, giving patients quicker access to surgery without the need to travel to private providers.
Diagnostic Imaging
MRI, CT, and ultrasound scans are frequently outsourced, but insourcing offers an alternative that keeps imaging on site. Extra radiographers and reporting clinicians can be scheduled during off-peak hours, ensuring results stay within trust systems.
Surgical Specialties
- General surgery: Helps reduce delays for hernia and gallbladder cases.
- ENT: Insourced ENT clinics can ease pressure on routine referrals.
- Gynaecology: Insourcing teams manage both outpatient and surgical pathways, supporting women’s health services.
Cardiology
Cardiology insourcing often focuses on diagnostic tests like echocardiograms and stress tests. This ensures patients receive timely investigations and treatment planning remains within the trust.
Other Uses
Insourcing has also supported dermatology, urology, and even some mental health services. The flexibility of the model allows trusts to target whichever speciality faces the heaviest backlog at a given time.
Insourcing vs Outsourcing: What’s Better for the NHS?
Aspect | Insourcing in the NHS | Outsourcing in the NHS |
---|---|---|
Location of Care | Services delivered inside NHS hospitals using existing facilities. | Patients sent to private hospitals or other external providers. |
Control | Trust retains oversight of governance, patient pathways, and records. | Less direct control as patients move into another provider’s systems. |
Patient Experience | Patients stay on familiar hospital sites, reducing disruption. | Patients often need to travel and adjust to new settings. |
Use of Resources | Makes use of theatres and clinics during evenings or weekends. | Relies on external capacity, not on existing NHS estate. |
Cost Impact | Can be cost-effective by using NHS infrastructure. | May be more expensive due to external provider rates. |
Continuity of Care | Easier handover and follow-up as records remain in-house. | Communication gaps may occur across different systems. |
How Secure Healthcare Solutions Delivers NHS Insourcing
At Secure Healthcare Solutions, we work closely with NHS trusts to give you quick access to full clinical teams through compliant insourcing frameworks. Our services are designed to fit around your hospital’s needs, whether that means running extra endoscopy lists, additional ophthalmology sessions, or diagnostic clinics during evenings and weekends. By choosing our teams, you keep services on your site, under your governance, and always focused on your patients.
We also create opportunities for clinicians who want to support the health service through NHS insourcing jobs. By joining our network, healthcare professionals can expand their experience, work flexibly, and help trusts reduce waiting lists across the country.
As your trusted insourcing healthcare agency in Wolverhampton, we are here to help you cut backlogs, improve patient flow, and make the most of your hospital’s capacity. If you are looking for a reliable partner to deliver insourcing, get in touch with us today.