HfMA

2007 Industry Awards

Finance Director of the Year heads HFMA Awards winners

Jane Tomkinson, finance director of Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust, has been named as Finance Director of the Year at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Awards 2007. The awards recognise achievement in heath service management with a particular focus on finance.



Ms Tomkinson was one of nine winners to receive awards at the awards ceremony in central London last night, held during the HFMA’s annual conference. The award acknowledged Ms Tomkinson’s role in the Countess of Chester’s strong financial performance since becoming a foundation trust, her championing of staff development and contributions to the finance function both within the North West region and nationally.

Nine awards in total were made to organisations, teams and individuals, recognising achievements in financial management, financial reporting and governance.

South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was named as HFMA Foundation Trust of the Year – the only foundation trust award to be endorsed by foundation trust regulator Monitor. The award recognised the significant achievements in integrating psychiatric and learning disabilities services formerly run by local PCTs.

In other major awards North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust were singled out as HFMA Accounts Team of the Year, while Bromley Primary Care Trust and Devon Partnership NHS Trust were both winners in the HFMA Financial Management Award (separate categories for PCTs and trusts/FTs).

HFMA chairman Andy Leary, who sat on a number of judging panels and presented the awards, said the HFMA Awards was an opportunity to celebrate the talent and achievements of the NHS finance profession. ‘The awards provide a showcase for the best in NHS financial and healthcare management,’ he said. ‘As well as celebrating success, innovation and achievement, the awards are a great way to inspire others, generate ideas and spread best practice.’

The HFMA awards have been running since 2004 and were expanded this year with new award categories, making them the most comprehensive awards programme for healthcare financial management and governance. In total some 28 organisations and individuals were shortlisted for the nine awards.

The full list of winners included (endorsements and sponsors in brackets)


HFMA Finance Director of the Year
(Department of Health; Public Sector Consultants)

WINNER – JANE TOMKINSON (COUNTESS OF CHESTER NHS FOUNDATION TRUST)

Jane Tomkinson has been director of finance and performance and deputy chief executive for the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since 2003. In addition to finance she is responsible for corporate performance management, IM&T and procurement and is executive lead director for the women and children’s division. Since establishment, the Countess of Chester is the only foundation trust to have achieved the highest Monitor risk rating of 5 for two consecutive years. The trust has generated a surplus in each of the past two years with the surplus in 2006/7 made against the backcloth of a significant deficit for the local primary care trust and enormous financial risk from the impact of its recovery plan. Ms Tomkinson was nominated by her chief executive Peter Herring for her leading role in the trust’s ‘excellent financial performance’. He described her as a ‘strong and progressive leader of all the departments and functions she manages’ and an ‘excellent ambassador for the trust and her profession’.

Judges’ comments: HFMA chairman Andy Leary said: ‘What impressed me was Jane’s consistent achievement in delivering high standards against a context of commitment to the NHS values and patient care.’

Also shortlisted: John Barber (Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust); Malcolm Cassells (Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust); Eifion Williams (BroMorgannwg NHS Trust)


HFMA Foundation Trust of the Year
(Monitor; Bevan Brittan)

WINNER - SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE AND SHROPSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Having been authorised as a foundation trust in May 2006, South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust began the process of integrating the psychiatric and learning disabilities services formerly run by local PCTs. Following published merger guidance, the trust set about the daunting task of TUPEing 1200 staff, transferring £43m of fixed assets and agreeing £42m of new legal service contracts. After a 13 month process, the newly named South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust claims to have used its foundation trust freedoms to secure significant clinical and business benefits that will deliver greater local choice and improve efficiency.

Judges’ comments: Chief operating officer for Monitor Stephen Hay said: ‘In 2006/07 South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust demonstrated how FT freedoms can be used to enhance operations for the benefit of both the NHS foundation trust and the wider provision of high quality healthcare in its region. The NHS foundation trust was Authorised on 1 May 2006 and within 12 months of Authorisation had completed and integrated a significant strategic transaction, representing a major development in the size and reach of its operations. Against this background, the trust and its management team has continued to deliver exceptional financial and service performance, demonstrating strength and depth of management to support the success of this high performing autonomous organisation.’

Also shortlisted: Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust; Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust


HFMA Accounts Team of the Year
(Department of Health; KPMG)

WINNER – NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS TRUST

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust was formed on 1 July 2006 as a result of the merger of: Greater Manchester; Cheshire and Mersey; Lancashire; and Cumbria Ambulance Services. The merger necessitated a finance team restructure and the migration to a consolidated ledger while all the time ensuring business continuity. The restructure of the finance function created a ‘virtual’, single structure with devolved local management accounting teams serving the needs of local managers supported by a corporate team. Migration to a single integrated ledger went live on 1 April 2007, although the annual accounts preparation had to be completed using the four legacy ledgers and asset registers. During this period, the accounts team produced complex closing accounts for the four predecessor trusts for the last three months of their existence and a set of accounts for the new organization for the nine months of its existence and a consolidated set of accounts to reflect the full financial year. In total in the 13 months ended 31 April 2007 the accounts team prepared and had audited 13 sets of accounts, with minimal adjustments, against the backdrop of limited merger accounting.

Judges’ comments: David Flory, director general of finance and performance, Department of Health said: ‘The North West Ambulance Service entry really demonstrated the meaning of “team”. They achieved something fantastic through team working that otherwise would not have been possible.’

Also shortlisted: NHS Business Service Authority; Bournemouth and Poole PCT; Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust


HFMA Financial Management Award
(Audit Commission/Audit Commission Trust Practice)

WINNER (PCT CATEGORY) – BROMLEY PRIMARY CARE TRUST

Bromley PCT reviewed its finance function and restructured to shift its focus from transaction processing to the core business of strategic financial planning. All the transaction processing functions were outsourced to the NHS Shared Business Services with some savings used to invest in senior qualified finance staff. The changes led to a net saving, improvements in forecasting, quality and timeliness of information, enabling the PCT to deliver a cost improvement programme of £11.8m.

Judges’ comments: Andy McKeon, managing director, health, Audit Commission: ‘Bromley really stood out. The results of its different approach in 2006/07 were impressive, including achieving an £11.8m cost improvement programme without affecting patient care. The PCT is now in much better shape to meet its future challenges, targeting resources to areas where access has been historically poor, providing better information and support to practice based commissioners and linking investment to public health priorities.’

Also shortlisted: Salford PCT


WINNER (TRUST/FT CATEGORY) – DEVON PARTNERSHIP NHS TRUST

The Devon trust redesigned adult and older adults’ mental health ward configurations and staffing along with its community mental health services to deliver improved efficiency and patient care. The process was led by the finance team but involved close working with clinicians. With a major funding gap at the beginning of 2006/07, a recovery plan was put together using analysis of individual services’ position against national reference costs. The approach led to first year savings of more than £3m with forecast savings for the current year (at month 5) in excess of £8m.

Judges’ comments: Andy McKeon, managing director, health, Audit Commission, said: ‘This was a very impressive entry, combining innovative and imaginative use of data, strong clinical engagement and large efficiency gains to turn around the trust’s financial performance and improve the quality of care.’

Also shortlisted: South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


HFMA Governance Award
(Ardentia)

WINNER – Redbridge Primary Care Trust

Following the Department of Health Fit for Purpose (FFP) process in 2006, Redbridge PCT implemented a number of governance tools and processes that support every stage of the business planning cycle through to delivery and reporting. By integrating governance into the mainstream business planning process, the PCT has prevented governance becoming a tick box exercise. Practical steps have included ensuring clear strategic goals are well communicated, introducing horizontal working rather than working in functional silos and creating an accountability framework to engage all staff.

Judges’ comment: Paul Dillon-Robinson, chair of HFMA Corporate Governance and Audit Committee, said: ‘This was clearly a board-led initiative in difficult circumstances and there was evidence that the turnaround in their fortunes was linked to the adoption of good governance.  The understanding of good governance was across the board and clearly linked in with clinical practice and the lessons from integrated governance. There was a clear passion and enthusiasm for the subject from the team.'

Also shortlisted: Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust; Salford PCT


HFMA Clinical Engagement Award
(National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence - NICE)

WINNER – CHRISTIE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

The Christie Hospital has developed a process to assess the potential impact of new technologies and drugs as they arise as a way of informing the local development planning round. An accurate understanding of the potential costs of new NICE guidance is vital for the cancer specialist as the trust’s £30m drugs budget (which has risen from £13m in just four years) represents nearly a quarter of its total budget. The process involves a drugs and therapeutics committee, made up of clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical audit, general management and finance representatives.

Judges’ comment: Andrea Sutcliffe, former deputy chief executive of NICE, said: ‘The Christie Hospital submission highlighted the impact that NICE guidance can have not only on drug costs, but also service issues.  The steps taken by the team to look ahead, budget and plan for forthcoming guidance with both finance staff and clinicians working together, backed up by implementation and monitoring, provides a strong framework that we would strongly endorse.’

Also shortlisted: Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) NICE College; Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust


HFMA NHS Charity Reporting Award
(Charity Commission)

WINNER – BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARITIES

Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charities’ annual report adopted a plain English approach to what can often be a dry publication. With chapters entitled ‘what do you do?’, ‘How do you make a difference?’ and ‘To spend money we must first raise it’, the report is extremely accessible yet still provides all the required information on how the charities use their funds. With eye-catching bright colours, the report also uses images and captions that attempt to answer questions and ease any concerns children might have before being admitted.

Judges’ comment: Nick Allaway, director of information and corporate services at the Charity Commission, said: ‘The quality of the trustees’ annual report is a vital part of achieving transparency and demonstrating the public benefit achieved by charities. All the entries displayed great enthusiasm for the work they were doing and made very creative use of photographs, beneficiary stories and colour graphics. What stood out about the award winner is Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charities had all that and met every disclosure requirement of the SORP and incorporated a child’s eye journey through a stay in hospital. A great idea to combine a children’s story and the report in one handy read for carers and children.’

Also shortlisted: UHB Charities; Above and Beyond Charities


HFMA Jon Havelock Award*
WINNER – SHERWOOD FOREST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Following a survey in June 2006, the finance department developed a ‘finance for non-finance managers’ training programme aimed specifically at budget holders. The programme was split into three broad areas. The basics of finance topic covered department structure, roles and responsibilities, policies and procedures. A key issues strand looked at budgetary control, capital expenditure, activity and income, costing and payment by results. And a new topics strand considered the likely impact of foundation trust status, the concern with efficiency and productivity and the introduction of service line reporting. All budget holders were invited to attend one of six training days over a five month period. The training days are now widely well regarded, with a recognition that they have improved the understanding of financial issues by non-finance managers. The trust chief executive has also made it clear that he expects all non-finance managers to have attended one of the training days by the end of 2007/08.

Judges’ comment: Letsie Tilley, director of finance and planning, Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: ‘The Sherwood Forest entry was customer focused, practical and cost effective and has already been able to demonstrate its transferability to other NHS organisations. It will be of great benefit to foundation trusts, PCTs, health authorities and NHS trusts alike.’

Also shortlisted: Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford Hospital NHS Trust; Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

*The Jon Havelock Award recognises a significant contribution made by an individual finance professional or finance team to financial performance or financial management.