Comment / HFMA 2011: Melbourne is HFMA Finance Director of the Year

David Melbourne, chief financial officer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, was named Finance Director of the Year at last night’s Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Awards 2011. The awards recognise achievement in heath service management with a particular focus on finance.

One of eight winners at the awards ceremony, held during the HFMA's annual conference in central London, judges were impressed by the impact Mr Melbourne had made at the Birmingham trust, particularly in the interaction between clinicians and managers. He has led the delivery of significant cost improvements and been instrumental in developing a paediatric top-up tariff. Mr Melbourne is the fifth recipient of the award, which was launched in 2007.

The Deputy Finance Director of the Year, an award launched last year, was given to Christie NHS Foundation Trust deputy Joanne Fitzpatrick. Not only has she helped frontline staff gain a better understanding of NHS finance, but she also led the establishment of an innovative joint venture with an independent sector organisation to provide patient services in the UK and abroad.

Organisations, as well as individuals, were honoured – group awards included those for Accounts Team of the Year, efficiency and governance. A new award this year recognised improvements in costing processes and information, which are vital when organisations make decisions about future service delivery. Four high-quality candidates were shortlisted for the Costing Award, which went to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The judges believed the board’s experience implementing a costing model in organisations of significant scale would be of value, not just in Wales, but also in the wider NHS.

HFMA president Suzanne Tracey, who sat on a number of judging panels and presented the awards, said the awards showcased and celebrated the best of NHS finance across the UK.

‘The HFMA Awards are a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the best of?good practice and innovation in the profession,’ she added.

The HFMA awards have been running since 2004 and are the most comprehensive awards programme for healthcare financial management and governance. In total, 26 organisations and individuals were shortlisted for the eight awards.