There is a huge gulf in the amount of time different health trusts take to pay suppliers, according to research carried out by the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

Information, obtained by the FPB under the Freedom of Information Act, shows that some NHS trusts are paying more than 90% of their bills within 10 days, while others are failing to process any in the timeframe with some barely managing to pay one in five invoices within 30 days.

Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Lancashire emerged as the best-performing trust in England for 10-day payment along with the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 30-day payment.

The Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was the worst for 10-day payment, while three trusts in London and the South East were joint worst for 30-day payment.

FPB spokesman Phil McCabe says: “These figures show an astonishing lack of consistency and uniformity when it comes to prompt payment in the NHS.

“Some trusts are obviously well aware how important getting paid quickly is to their suppliers. As a result, these trusts are commendably processing the majority of their invoices within 10 days and many have voluntarily signed up to prompt payment schemes.”