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Well most Trusts are well into developing their first draft operational plans into the final draft, but lots of uncertainties surround the development of the STP. This is the place based plan of health care across all providers and touches all stakeholders in the health and social care arena.

This is a great concept and one that should have been put in place long ago, lets face it the same 70% to 80% of people are seen by all the stakeholders, so why shouldn't services be joined up, I guess its the silo mentality that gets in the way. 

The short termism of the planning and allocation cycles, the targets and performance management regimes drive organisations down the silo route, but this has got to change. I like many others will be sat scratching their heads about what and how to construct such a plan.

Having said that this is an opportunity that cannot be missed, its a chance to plan services across sectors, boundaries and organisations. I hope we take it.

So for now it's get to first base, which is a signed contract, that delivers a control total equalling operational plan, this then allows a small amount of time to get our heads up and think about STP.

As always, if theres anything you need, please get in touch.

​Stephen

Well i'm sure you've all been waiting with baited breath for the long awaited Final report from Lord Carter of Coles, setting out his vision for the the way the NHS will rise to the efficiency and productivity challenge over the next few years.

I have to say its a weighty tome and has 15 main recommendations and well over 100 hundred other recommendations, but do you know what I actually think its a good report. I think its got some really sensible suggestions and ideas that Trust can pick up and run with that will directly and indirectly contribute to the efficiency agenda of all Trusts.

Don;t be fooled by the banner headlines that this is just about Acute Trusts, which all of it absolutely is, but there are lots of the recommendations that I believe all Trusts can look to for help with where to go to save money.

Ar its core its about making sure that those who are responsible for spending the money across the NHS absolutely understand what value they get for that expenditure, and there are lots of suggestions and helpful measures to assist Trusts in getting to grips with whats become an ever tougher job.

I've still to get my head around the Weighted Activity Outputs, and the other various measures that are suggested, as I think that you could get lost in trying to argue the value of those, and if you do, well I think you'll sort of missed the point really.

I'm looking to use the report as a way of re-emgerigsing the Trust I'm currently working at, to look at savings in a more structured way.

Go have a read, you'll find the report on the DoH website (www.gov.uk) you won't be disappointed.

Let me know what you think.

​Stephen

I am, of course, referring to the annual wrestle that its the commissioner and provider process to agree contracts for the coming financial year.

It's all got to be done and dusted by 31st March along with completing the Operational Plans and year end etc. The one new dimension, well i say new, is the concept of agreed control totals, set by Monitor and NHS England. For those of us, who are a certain age then we remember the days when a control total was a great thing.

The Regional Health Authority would decide on the allocation and we would wait with bated breath too get the next allocation letter to increase our allocation (or control total). The more that things change the more they stay the same, there is a french phrase for that but I'm rubbish at that language, except for ordering beer of course.

Why am i reminiscing about the olden days, when I'm supposed to be talking about agreeing contracts? Well its a tough call really for Boards to make that call, there is no offers on the table yet, so how can they know with absolute certainty what the offer will look like. Scenario modelling will help and its a vital tool in any Boards armoury so they can understand the level of risk they have when accepting or not the control total on offer.

Modelling, scenario planning is a vital tool for Boards, and accountants are best placed to help shape and undertake this type of work.

Take look around my site you'll find I've done lots of this type of thing, and I'm always full of ideas and helpful suggestions, so feel free to get in touch.

Cheers

​Stephen