News / Orchard plans holistic association (HFMA 2016)

On succeeding Shahana Khan on 9 December, he unveiled his presidential theme, Everyone counts. ‘We know that there are around 20,000 people working in NHS finance and the association needs to support everyone. It doesn't matter which part of the service you work in, whether you are qualified or unqualified and certainly not your gender or ethnic background – what’s important is that everyone counts,’ he told the HFMA conference in his inaugural speech.

He said he wants the HFMA to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for support in difficult times. He also hopes to facilitate greater sharing of experience and best practice across the four UK nations and he will prioritise his time to ensure he visits all 13 branches. There would be other developments, including the new HFMA qualifications and a new member app, he said.

Mr Orchard, director of finance at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, announced a number of initiatives, including forging closer links with clinicians and local authorities.

Sanjay Agrawal, a consultant in respiratory and intensive care medicine at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, will be the first clinician to sit on the HFMA national board. This will strengthen the link between HFMA and Future-Focused Finance – Dr Agrawal leads the FFF Close partnering  workstream. Also, the HFMA will establish a clinical forum, initially for medical and nursing directors.

And, early in 2017, the HFMA and CIPFA will set up a joint social care faculty.

‘I don't think anyone in this room would pretend that we can deliver on the changes ahead without working more closely with clinical colleagues and social care,’ he added.