Highlights from the conference in December

Making his last appearance at an HFMA annual conference as NHS Improvement director of resources and deputy chief executive, Mr Alexander (pictured below) praised the finance function for its work to deliver financial plans in recent years – but more had to be done. There was still a ‘significant reliance on non-recurrent measures’ and too many financial improvements ‘skewed to the back end of the year’.

Matthew Style, director of strategic finance at NHS England, told the conference that co-design work was under way on how new shared control totals would work. He highlighted the need for updated payment systems to underpin new models of care pursued by accountable care systems, warning against systems simply adopting block contracts. While payment by results may not suit all service areas, the NHS should not lose all the benefits associated with the approach.

The conference also focused on value-based healthcare, providing a platform for Jason Helgerson, Medicaid director for the New York Department of Health, to brief delegates on how value was driving outcome and cost improvements. One health system in the state fits air conditioning units in the homes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to improve wellbeing and reduce acute admissions.

From the UK, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s medical director Paul Buss (pictured above) said there needed to be a much wider adoption of the value-based approach. He called for every foundation trust or integrated health board to have a chief value officer – medical directors were the perfect candidates for these roles.

In a new format, the conference featured a series of short, fast-paced presentations, alongside political insight from BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg (pictured) and a motivational session from Olympic triathletes Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee.

The conference showcased the best in NHS finance and governance in its annual HFMA Awards. Eight awards went to individuals and teams in a range of categories, with Manchester finance director Adrian Roberts claiming the overall Finance Director of the Year Award.

• More awards coverage in the HFMA Awards 2017 supplement and conference coverage in Top stories.