To help reduce waste and therefore costs, NHS Ayrshire and Arran ask patients to choose their next meal as close as possible to the meal time, this means that their rate of unserved meals is very low, on average three per cent. In order to ensure best value, NHS Ayrshire and Arran purchase their food and beverages from national procurement contracts agreed by NHS National Services Scotland (National Procurement), who use the combined buying power of NHS Boards throughout Scotland, to get the best possible deals on supplies and services.