Comment / Professional glue

By Mark Knight

This month I am not able to give my regular report on the recent board meeting because of the timing of the meeting, so I’ll save that for next issue.  What I can say is that I believe this meeting of the trustees will be one of the most critical in my time as chief executive.  Strategically the HFMA is looking carefully at its role in the new world in England and in particular where finance professionals look for leadership.

The NHS faces huge change. Primary care trust responsibilities are being divided among clinical commissioning groups, commissioning support organisations and local offices of the NHS Commissioning Board. And we will see a new landscape at the centre – with changes at the Department, Monitor, the new Commissioning Board and the Trust Development Authority.

Amid this change, qualified accountants must feel supported and led. Obviously if you’re in a devolved nation you look to the head of finance in Scotland or Wales or perhaps to the strategic body in the Northern Ireland system. But following the passing of the 2012 Health Act, where do finance staff look for their professional leadership in England? 

Many would rightly say David Flory and that is still the case until 31 March 2013. David has done a fantastic job since 2006 in putting professional leadership at the top of his agenda with a high premium on disciplined financial management, development of the profession and a solid voice from the top. Even though FTs are not strictly in his remit, the tone and decisiveness of his leadership has been such that many have felt reassured by his hand on the rudder. These are, of course, objectives that the HFMA shares. Over the years we’ve developed an excellent working relationship with him and we’re very grateful for his support with both the ‘Making a difference’ and last year’s ‘Take control’ initiatives.

Post-April 2013 looks very different. If you’re on the commissioning side you will, I assume, look to sector finance leads and Paul Baumann, the newly appointed finance director at the Commissioning Board.  One thing is clear: professional support will be vital for commissioning finance staff as they come to terms with their new clinically led bodies.

 If you’re in an NHS trust, you will still in a sense be with David Flory, as head of the Trust Development Authority,  and his appointed finance director, although for most this should be a transition phase on the way to FT status. FTs are directly accountable to Parliament and it is assumed that Monitor, as a broader sector regulator, will be more hands-off.

There will be certainties. For example, Richard Douglas will still be director-general for finance at the Department of Health. But Richard, who is also head of the civil service finance function, will not have much direct contact with finance staff as his main role is to work for ministers.

The common factor in the new world is the association. The HFMA provides guidance and increasingly sets standards for the healthcare finance profession. We already provide an essential network for the profession and bring the function together both with special interest groups or as a whole finance community. In short we are the professional glue in the system. We have a few ideas as to how we might consolidate this strength and in the coming months I’ll be revealing a bit more to you through these pages.  If you’ve read this and want to contact me, make a difference and e-mail me your thoughts.