NHS National Services Scotland (NSS)

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a public body and national health board of NHS Scotland.

NSS is an integral part of Scotland’s health care system, providing national strategic support services and expert advice to NHS Scotland. Operating across the whole of Scotland, NSS provides a wide range of national services including Digital and Security, Population Screening and National Procurement, amongst other services and support.

We met with Tom McHugh (NSS Shared Services Manager), to hear about NSS’s work as an Anchor institution. Tom’s knowledge of NSS’s unique contribution to health and care in Scotland, and his passion for the Anchors institution programme, was evident.

Tom highlighted four objectives NSS had identified through their Anchors institution work. These were to: 

• embed the Anchor institution approach within NSS
• align organisational strategies with national policies and frameworks
• develop local employment opportunities and improve procurement practices
• enhance the use of public assets for community benefit

We heard how one of the most significant achievements for the NSS Anchor institution working group was gaining support from senior leadership. This support proved critical to advancing the Anchors institution programme within the organisation. It was felt there was strong alignment between national policies such as Fair Work Scotland, the Living Wage, and the Anchors activity being progressed by NSS.

For example, NSS National Procurement teams incorporate the Fair Work First Criteria into their tender documents and are committed to working with suppliers to ensure employees are paid the Real Living Wage.

Tom shared the importance of engagement with key colleagues from various directorates including national procurement, estates and facilities and human resources. The relationships built with these colleagues, and their collaboration, helped shape the Anchor Strategic Plan for NSS.

This short video shares more information on the Anchor institution approach within NHS National Services Scotland.

Tom acknowledged the financial pressures facing NHS Scotland and its health boards and described how constraints have necessitated the reprioritisation of initiatives, presenting challenges to maintaining momentum across various programmes. Tom also recognised that introducing the concept of what an Anchor institution is and what it does is complex.

We heard how implementing the Anchors institution programme across NSS came with a level of complexity, as coordinating activities across directorates and aligning with national policies was challenging at times.

The NSS Anchor institution working group reflected on the challenge of striking a balance between immediate service delivery needs and long-term Anchor institution objectives, whilst also considering financial pressures.

A key reflection from the NSS Anchor institution working group was the recognition of their role to enable and influence change. This helped move projects forward by encouraging collaboration and focusing on opportunities to meet the aims of the Anchor Strategic Plan.

Tom explained how securing senior level support of Anchors institution activity was key to enabling effective internal communication, awareness raising, and encouraging wider adoption across teams. This was supported by a range of engagement efforts, including:

• an interactive NSS Live online event
• a social media campaign
• features in NSS’s internal newsletter, Stay Connected

Additionally, the Anchors institution approach was formally presented to the NSS Board and the executive management team, reinforcing its strategic importance across the organisation.

We heard that despite financial pressures across NHS Scotland, NSS has made significant progress in embedding the Anchors institution approach and exploring innovative ways to improve service delivery. NSS’s commitment to implementing Anchor institution activities highlights the critical role of senior leadership support, cross-departmental collaboration, and strategic alignment with national policy priorities.