News / HFMA 2014: We are stronger together, says new HFMA president

Ms Lorimer, business director north at the NHS Trust Development Authority, gave her first speech as HFMA president and launched her theme for her year in office - 'Stronger together'.

'We are now working in a fragmented system and each part of that system has its own levers and objectives,' she told the conference.
'It's not always obvious how we align those objectives to focus on the most important issue - high quality care for patients which is financially sustainable.'

Ms Lorimer said that too much time was spent 'fighting our own corners' but that the finance network was 'ideally placed to lead the way on working together'.

'We are nothing if not resilient,' she added. 'We have always considered ourselves the backbone of the NHS and have managed to cope with every change that has been given us. The relationships we have across organisational boundaries have helped us deliver time and time again.'

Ms Lorimer highlighted the HFMA 'Taking the temperature' survey where finance directors called for a focus on collaboration. And she said there were examples where collaboration is happening to provide more services out of hospital and reconfigure hospital services.

She said the HFMA would look to highlight examples of collaborative working and support finance staff as they meet the challenges. It would also continue to work with the Finance Leadership Council to support the future-focused finance programme and look to support individuals to build their personal resilience.