News

• FT efficiency figures reflect rise in productivity challenge
  Monitor has revised its sector-wide efficiency require-ments for 2012/13 and beyond, signalling its belief that the squeeze on NHS provider finances will be greater than expected over the next few years.
• Monitor hints at phased approach to tariff changes
  The 2014/15 national tariff will be based on 2011/12 reference costs, Monitor has confirmed.
• Serco takes reins at ASP
  Serco has taken over the operation of the Anglia Support Partnership (ASP), one of the largest shared services providers in the NHS.
• Board: single system will be required for CCGs
  Adoption of the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) finance and accounting system will be a requirement for clinical commissioning group authorisation, the NHS Commissioning Board has confirmed.
• Watchdog urges action on short-stay data
  The Audit Commission has called for greater consistency in the classification of short-stay patients under payment by results (PBR).
• Study debunks day case perceptions
  Trusts that treat more patients as day cases keep fewer patients in overnight for follow-up treatment, according to a study by CHKS.
• News review - Seamus Ward assesses the past month in healthcare finance
  With the Health and Social Care Act now on the statute book, the Easter break and politicians busy being pictured eating a pie or a pasty, it was a relatively quiet month for the NHS at Westminster. But in the country at large, reform, efficiency and proposed pay and pension changes were the (non-VAT-able) hot topics.
• News analysis: Mods rules
  Monitor will soon oversee locally agreed increases in tariff. Seamus Ward examines the regulator's early thinking on how the system will work

Comment

• Going for gold
  In a big year for the NHS, finance professionals need to harness the available support and hone their performance, writes Sue Jacques
• Time to target the 'too difficult' pile
  The NHS needs robust cost data that accurately reflects the complexity of healthcare and finance must upskill to support service redesign, writes Tony Whitfield.
• Professional glue
  Mark Knight writes that strategically the HFMA is looking carefully at its role in the new world in England and in particular where finance professionals look for leadership.

Features

• Visual stimulation
  A visual approach to project management and monitoring is at the heart of successful cost reduction for a specialist orthopaedic foundation trust. Steve Brown reports.
  Download Visual stimulation PDF
• State of the union
  Department of Health QIPP lead Professor Mahmood Adil reports on doctors’ views of clinical-financial engagement, seen as vital to the delivery of affordable, high-quality care.
  Download State of the union PDF
• Helping hands
  The skills needed to redesign services are not widespread in the NHS, so many trusts have turned to external consultants. Seamus Ward discovers how one trust has used an innovative partnership to drive efficiencies and increase quality.
  Download Helping hands PDF
• Return on investment
  Patient level costing systems boost the quality of local costing data and can be used to compile better reference cost returns as long as a few key issues are kept in mind. Helen Strain reports.
  Download Return on investment PDF
• Making a Difference
  The HFMA has released details of a free programme of support, including opportunities for mentoring, training and development.
  Download Making a Difference PDF
• Introduction to...performance management (trusts)
  Our guide to the performance management framework for NHS trusts
  Download Introduction to...performance management (trusts) PDF
• Technical round-up
  Our monthly review of the latest technical guidance and reports, with links to the original documents
• NICE update
  The guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in April