North Stafordshire LMC has been a member of the LMC Buying Groups Federation since 2015. This means that all practices can access the discounts the Buying Group has negotiated on a wide range of products and services.
All practices were given the opportunity to ‘opt-in’ to membership at that time and almost 50 practices have now done so. Any practices who have not yet signed up can do so at any time. If you are unsure if your practice is a member or if you wish to join the Buying Group, then please email info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk and they will provide you with an application form.
Membership entitles you to discounts on products and services provided by the Buying Group's suppliers. Membership is free and there is no obligation on practices to use all the suppliers. However, practices can save thousands of pounds a year just by switching to Buying Group suppliers. To view the pricing and discounts on offer you need to log-in to the Members section of the Buying Group website: https://www.lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk/
Not convinced the Buying Group can save your practice money? Well why not challenge them to do just that! The Buying Group offers a free cost analysis service that aims to show member practices how much money they could save just by swapping to buying group suppliers. They can also provide this service for groups of practices working together. For more information, contact the Buying Group on 0115 979 6910 or email info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk.
LMC Buying Groups: Q&As
The following Q&As attempt to answer the most obvious questions about the Buying Group and how it operates.
What is the purpose of the LMC Buying Group and how does it work?
The sole purpose of the Buying Group is to save its member practices money by negotiating discounts on goods and services which practices regularly purchase. The Buying Group team negotiate with suppliers, after which they identify ‘approved’ suppliers, who guarantee to give you significant discounts over what you would otherwise pay for their services, in return for the Buying Group’s endorsement and help in making you aware of what they offer.
Does it cost us anything to be part of the group?
No. All practices paying the LMC statutory/administrative levy are automatically entitled to enrol as members. The Buying Group regard this as an added value service your LMC can offer you. Should any practice cease to pay their LMC levies, they will no longer be able to access the benefits this initiative will bring.
Is there any obligation to take up the deals offered?
No. Each practice is free to take up or decline any of the deals the Buying Group have negotiated. If you wish to take advantage of any of the offers in question, you will be given contact details and all communications take place between you and the individual supplier*.
Who are the Buying Group’s approved suppliers?
A full list of suppliers is available on the Buying Group’s website but product/service areas that the group covers includes:
* Stationery, Office Equipment and Furniture
* Medical Consumables and Equipment and Testing and Calibration
* Insurance
* Energy Broker
* Confidential Waste Shredding
* Waste Collection
* Telecoms
* Staff Uniforms
* Asbestos and Environmental Surveys
* Emergency Oxygen
* Digital Dictation Software
* Online Training Courses
* Medical Record Digital Reproduction
* Travax Website Subscription
* Website Design
* Merchant Card Services
* Royalty Free Music
* Flu Vaccines
Your Details
When a practice signs up for Buying Group membership, they will keep your basic contact details (practice address, telephone number) on a secure database which is used for administration purposes (i.e. to identify which practices are eligible for supplier discounts). On the membership application form, they also ask you how they can use your personal data (i.e. your email address) but even if you do sign up to receive their emails you can stop them at any time by clicking the unsubscribe button.
What if I am not happy with the quality of goods and services supplied?
Always let the Buying Group know if you encounter any problems getting what you want, and they will endeavour to sort it out.
*The Buying Group accepts no liability for any contract willingly entered into by a practice with an approved supplier. Practices are advised to check that the terms of any contract with suppliers are not inconsistent with those the Buying Group have negotiated and are advised to inform the Buying Group team of any discrepancy. The Buying Group do not, however, accept any responsibility for any member practices’ failure to check the terms of the relevant contract and the principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware) applies in all cases. Your rights as a consumer under the Consumer Protection Act are unaffected. With respect to any services to which the provisions of the Financial Services Act 2000 might apply practices are advised to seek independent financial advice as may be appropriate.