What the hell is it with the NHS and purchasing?.. I had an interesting conversation with a theatre nurse about clips. The clips they use to hold down sterile sheeting are quite expensive (around a tenner each IIRC), but theyre made out of metal, last for ages, and stand up well to being sterilised etc. But theyre not allowed to buy any. Instead, they use some other types of plastic clip that are designed for a completely different purpose. They sort of work, but break after a couple of uses and get binned. Cost? Around 15 quid. But as theyre classed as a consumable, they can buy them... Insane.(sorry, Im not a healthcare pro, I do IT, so forgive the lack of proper teminology!)