FOI 26-283 Medical Device Procurement Policy
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-283 Medical Device Procurement Policy
- Request Date
- 25 Jun 2026
- Response Date
- 30 Jun 2026
- Information Requested
- Please provide the date when your medical device (as defined by MHRA, i.e. also including relevant software) procurement policy (or policies, if you e.g. have a separate one for medical software) was/were last updated.
- Pleasestatewhether the policy (mentioned in point 1 above) requires that a clinical ethicist should be consulted during purchase decisions (if a clinical ethicist is only needs to be consulted under certain conditions, please list these). A clinical ethicists is defined as a member of your clinical ethics committee (under whatever name it operates in your organisation, but this does not include research ethics committees) or an academic with a dedicated post in ethics or a permanent staff members explicitly employed to provide clinical ethics support.
- If the policy requires ethical issues to be considered during such devise purchase decisions, but not via input of a clinical ethicist as defined above, pleasestatethe mechanisms in place for fulfilling that requirement.
- Pleasestatewhether you had clinical ethicist (as defined above) involvement in the purchase of any clinical artificial intelligence applications irrespective of whether this is mandated by your policy.
- Response
Q1 - The Scottish Ambulance Service does not have a standalone medical device procurement policy (including for relevant software).
Procurement of medical devices is undertaken in line with the Service’s general procurement policies, procedures, and strategy, alongside applicable NHS Scotland national frameworks and guidance.
Q2 - The Service does not employ or retain a clinical ethicist (as defined in your request), and there is no requirement within procurement policies to consult such a role as part of purchase decision-making.
Q3 - Although there is no requirement to consult a clinical ethicist, ethical considerations are addressed through established governance and assurance processes rather than procurement policy alone.
These include:
- Review of clinical suitability and patient safety considerations
- Risk assessment processes
- Information governance and data protection requirements (including DPIAs where appropriate)
- Input from relevant clinical leads and subject matter experts
Ethical considerations relating to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are also informed by wider national guidance, including the Scottish Government’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy and procurement guidance - Purpose & Outcomes - Scotland's Artificial Intelligence strategy 2026-2031 - gov.scot.
Q4 - The Service has not had involvement from a clinical ethicist (as defined in your request) in the procurement of clinical artificial intelligence applications.
