News / South West to build on ‘massive improvement’

Speaking at the HFMA south west branch weekend school in November, Mr Shields reflected on how far the local NHS had come since the region was established in 2006 with one of the worst inheritances of the new SHAs.

‘We have come a long way in a short space of time,’ he said. ‘There has been a massive improvement in the overall financial position and significant improvement in the performance of individual organisations. We may have a few in deficit at the moment, but that is set to reduce.’

Though the health check results were still ‘not brilliant’ – six organisations were weak on use of resources and quality of services; two had been weak on both for two years running – he was confident the position was improving.

However the conference, which also heard from Olympian Roger Black, was told that the future held more challenges, with the implementation of the Darzi Next Stage review and the requirement to make a surplus. ‘The NHS has not got a good track record of spending in a planned, controlled way,’ Mr Shields told delegates. ‘The finance profession has a big role to play here by making sure it is done sensibly, we meet our targets and increase the quality of services. There is still a controlling and stewardship role for the finance profession.’

In the past the NHS had not produced the productivity gains it had intended but it would now be expected to deliver real, cash-releasing savings. ‘Three per cent per annum over three years, particularly in provider services, is a big ask and the finance function will be in the vanguard of achieving this,’ he added.