News / Costing leads HFMA Awards line-up

The HFMA has launched its 2011 Awards with a new category that recognises improvements in costing processes and information.

The Costing Award, one of eight categories this year, focuses on creating better information to support decisions on service delivery. The new award reflects the association’s view that robust cost information will play a vital role in supporting the drive to improve quality and value for money in the coming years.

 ‘Given the current financial challenges, it is right we should raise the profile of costing and help share good and best practice across the country, both in terms of the technical work by costing accountants and efforts to engage clinicians,’ said Tony Whitfield (above left), chair of the HFMA Costing Special Interest Group.

The other seven award categories are: Finance Director of the Year; Deputy Finance Director of the Year; Accounts Team of the Year; Working with Finance – Clinician of the Year; Efficiency; Governance; and the Havelock Training Award.

Any second-in-line finance manager who reports directly to or deputises for the finance director can enter the deputy finance director award, now in its second year. Inaugural award winner Elaine Konieczny (pictured left), deputy director of finance and procurement at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, urged finance directors to nominate deputies. ‘The experience is worthwhile and uplifting. Not only is it great recognition for you as an individual but also for your finance team,’ she said.

Entry for all the awards is open to healthcare organisations and staff across the UK All shortlisted entrants will be invited to the HFMA’s annual awards dinner on 1 December. Winners will receive a specially commissioned trophy.

The deadline for entries is 30 September and the shortlist will be announced at the end of October.

l Full details of each category, including the entry requirements, nomination form and judging criteria, can be found at www.hfma.org.uk/awards