Hampshire hospitals nhs foundation trust

Following a recommendation from NHS Improvement/NHS England, In-Form Solutions were commissioned to support the Trust owing to its deteriorating financial performance. The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust resulted from a merger between the Winchester and Basingstoke hospitals, has a turnover of c£400m, and has severe estates issues.

The role was primarily to provide support and advice in the role of Financial Improvement Director to the Trust (and the wider health system as appropriate). This would include an initial assessment of the Trust’s financial improvement plans, governance and assurance processes, arrangements for service and strategic development, and its ability to deliver the necessary changes required to secure medium and longer term sustainability. This work was conducted through interviews with senor staff across the Trust, written sources and observation.

Following the initial analysis, In-Form were commissioned to support delivery of the action plans.

The key outcomes were:

• A detailed ‘findings’ and actions report to the CEO and FD focused on the key characteristics for any financial improvement plan:
  • Having a coherent Financial (Recovery) Plan (or equivalent) which provides a robust, deliverable and realistic set of actions to secure income, expenditure and cost improvement targets, based on a robust clinical strategy.
  • Having effective governance, systems, processes and leadership in place.
  • Alignment of demand, capacity, activity and workforce to secure the activity needed to deliver the income plan and operational targets.
  • Effective plans, capacity and capability to drive improved clinical productivity and effective patient flow optimization.
  • The delivery of effective workforce plans across all budget holders to reduce the cost of the payroll.
  • Effective corporate, back office and clinical support services.
• Support to the CEO and FD in developing effective governance arrangements for delivering the programme at both the Trust and across the wider health system.
• The ongoing review and development of annual and longer-term cost improvement plans.
• Review and advise on the role and best practice for the finance team to support and secure financial improvement.
• Advice and support the Director of Finance to ensure effective leadership of the FRP and handling strategies with NHS Improvement.
• Support with ongoing discussions with NHS Improvement/NHS England.