Feature / Stars of finance

The HFMA 2010 Awards recognised top performance in healthcare finance and highlighted best practice. Seamus Ward reports

Finance will play an important role in realising the government’s vision for reforming the health service and delivering the £20bn in efficiency savings required over the next four years, so it was appropriate that the 2010 HFMA Awards honoured not only the best in NHS finance, but also highlighted best practice in efficiency, training, governance and engaging with clinicians.

Seven industry awards were given to individuals and NHS bodies during a ceremony at the HFMA annual conference in December. North Bristol NHS Trust’s Steve Webster was named Finance Director of the Year. Recruited in 2002/03 as part of a turnaround team tackling a £45m deficit, Mr Webster has overseen the delivery of year-on-year financial balance and a rising annual surplus, enabling the trust to pay off its historic debt.

He helped the trust’s £500m private finance initiative scheme reach financial close in 2010, despite the difficult market conditions and the introduction of international financial reporting standards (IFRS). ‘It is fantastic to be recognised in this way. It was a strong field and I was pleased to be chosen,’ he says.

The judges lauded all four shortlisted candidates, including Keith Griffiths, director of finance and informatics at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust. He was nominated for his open and honest approach, even when delivering difficult messages, and his willingness to step outside finance and contribute to the trust’s wider development. For example, he is executive lead for the productive theatre programme across the trust’s three hospital sites, at the request of the divisional chair of surgery.

Mr Griffiths says it is a ‘humbling experience’ to have been nominated by his chief executive and his team. ‘It is great to be appreciated by the people you work with day to day. It is nice to be centre stage, with the things you take for granted yourself being recognised by others. Win or lose, that’s a powerful message.’

He adds: ‘But I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without the backing of my team.’

Second in command

The importance of the contribution made by ‘second-in-line’ finance managers was recognised in a new award – Deputy Finance Director of the Year. The winner, Elaine Konieczny, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust deputy director of finance, joined the health service straight from school; working her way up from creditor payment officer to her current role.

As well as leading the trust’s implementation of IFRS, she also managed the introduction of monthly service line reporting and led the integration of the trust’s procurement function into the finance directorate.

The award also recognises the deputy’s contribution to the improvement of health or healthcare nationally. Ms Konieczny was instrumental in instigating and organising a finance cohort made up of senior finance staff from foundation and non-foundation trusts, who meet regularly to share skills, solutions and best practice.

‘To have won such a prestigious award, and to be the first, was amazing. I am passionate about NHS finance and I am privileged to be leading one of the best teams, at one of the best hospitals, providing the best care,’ she says.

The trust’s chief executive Carolyn White adds: ‘We are all proud of Elaine’s fantastic achievement. Winning awards such as this helps us demonstrate our success as an organisation. This award is testament to Elaine’s outstanding contribution to the trust.’

The awards also highlighted the importance of clinical engagement. This year’s Working with Finance – Clinician of the Year Award, which recognises clinical engagement in finance, went to Philip Thomas, consultant urologist and clinical chief of finance at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mr Thomas has been advising the trust’s management since 2006, providing clinical leadership on turnaround and the delivery of the trust’s efficiency plan. Judges said Mr Thomas, demonstrated ‘clinical engagement at the highest level’, embedding clinical input into the finance process.

The Accounts Team of the Year Award was won by NHS Bournemouth and Poole, which submitted its annual accounts, without flaws, to the Department of Health five days before the national deadline. The previous year’s accounts were delivered to the Department three days before the deadline.

The team’s secret was to spread the work out throughout the year, completing working papers on a rolling basis every month and producing a full set at month 11. These could be updated with month 12 data when it was available, significantly reducing the pressure during the accounts closedown period.

A joint submission by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Audit South West on the integration of the trust’s clinical and internal audit won the Governance Award. The judges felt the approach could be adopted in many other organisations. They were impressed by the innovative nature of the scheme and its success – a feat few have managed.

As a result of the project, the non-executives who sit on the audit committee are more aware of clinical audit work as they now receive reports on clinical assurance. The clinical audit planning process has improved and clinicians have a better understanding of the issues faced by the trust.

Efficiency champions

Efficiency Award winners Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust caught judges’ eyes by introducing weekly reports for finance and other metrics. These allow managers to scrutinise their spending and performance using ‘real-time’ information.

The idea was adapted from the weekly reports used by the Savoy Hotel Group and, although clinical managers were sceptical at first, the board’s support and the finance team’s engagement with clinicians have helped drive the changes through. This has led to improved efficiency and effectiveness. Every department can keep on top of issues such as the cost of temporary staffing, sickness and activity.

As the national media focus on the substantial savings the NHS needs to make to meet the rising demand from an ageing population and providing new treatments, the trust says it is thrilled to have beaten off nationwide competition to win the well respected and coveted award.

Acting director of finance Andy Ray says producing the numbers alone would not improve performance. ‘All staff can be proud of how, as a trust, we have pulled together to improve efficiency for the benefit of patient care. This award is a great honour, and recognition needs to go the finance team here for its hard work and dedication to produce the weekly metrics.’

Chief executive Alan Whittle adds: ‘The organisation as a whole is now much more aware of the connection between the decisions made and the impact on our financial performance. It has changed habits and behaviours and cost control is now seen as everyone’s responsibility, not just the province of the finance department. Quality and cost efficiency go hand in hand. It is all about using our existing resources to work smarter.’

Havelock winners

NHS Central Lancashire won the Havelock Training Award. The award commemorates the significant contribution Department of Health deputy finance director Jon Havelock made to finance staff development. The award was established in 1999, a year after his sudden death, and looks to highlight good practice and innovation in finance skills development.

The primary care trust’s training programme includes technical skills and ‘softer’ skills, such as time management. Each member of the finance team gets at least five days a year for training and development.

The team has also delivered training to non-finance staff, including a ‘speed dating’ lunchtime event, where staff were given the opportunity to ask questions about finance in an informal setting.

David Walsh, NHS Central Lancashire deputy director of finance and acting financial controller, says: ‘The whole team should be very proud of themselves. We worked together to develop the skills of our staff to encourage them to work better and more efficiently.’

NHS Central Lancashire chief executive Joe Rafferty says it was an outstanding achievement. ‘This programme has not only helped us to develop our staff and fulfil our commitment to them, but it has also enabled them to make a great contribution to the organisation,’ he adds.