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
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