Finance Director calls for stronger focus on risk management at CIMA NHS Conference

01 June 2005

Finance Director calls for stronger focus on risk management at CIMA NHS Conference

Paul Kemp, Director of Finance ' Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority, will call for a stronger focus on risk management and commercial business skills for NHS finance directors at a conference to be held by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) on 3 June at the Royal Society of Arts, London.

He will say:

'The introduction of patient choice, payment by results, practice-based commissioning and Foundation Trusts, coupled with greater use of the independent sector, is arguably the most complex series of interlinking changes ever introduced in the NHS. Finance directors will need to strengthen both their business and interpersonal skills to successfully manage the system redesign reforms currently being implemented. '

He will continue:

'Finance directors of both Primary Care Trusts and other Trusts will be running complex, multi-million pound businesses. Risk management, coupled with the development of more commercial business skills and much better influencing skills, will be essential to success'.

This radical conference will feature major figures from the health arena who will speak on the challenges of financial management within the NHS.

Speakers at the conference will include:

• Bob Ricketts, Head of Policy Development and Capacity, Department of Health
• Jan Filochowski, who works for specific Health Authorities as a roving Chief Executive
• Professor Alan Maynard, Professor of Health Economics at the University of York and also Chairman of York NHS Trust

As healthcare provision evolves, so the challenges for management change. The modernisation of healthcare provision has triggered substantial and vigorous discussion on the key drivers of successful healthcare management. Key Issues to be addressed during the day will include:

• The evolving relationship between the NHS and other healthcare providers
• Measurement, monitoring, and management ' new approaches for improved performance
• Developing new solutions to demand and capacity problems
• Recognising organisational failure and devising the methods to cope with it
• Assessing the impact of choice and patience focused care in designing provision
• From an acute focus to primary care ' shifting the balance or shifting the burden?

Charles Tilley, CIMA Chief Executive, said, 'We know that more investment does not automatically equate to higher productivity and better services. Marked improvements only come with reform. An important element of that reform will be the quality of financial management and the contribution of professional accountants in its delivery. This conference will provide a challenging forum for all those involved in healthcare provision from all sectors. We have designed the event specifically for CEOs, Performance Directors, and Finance Directors in PCTs, Acute Trust, Mental Health Trusts, as well as in the independent and charitable sectors'.

Press invites are limited, to reserve your place please contact:

Claire Grewer, Press Assistant
Tel: 020 8849 2300 Email: Claire.grewer@cimaglobal.com

For all other attendees please contact:

CIMA Courses and Conferences
Tel: 020 8849 2244 Email: mastercourses@cimaglobal.com

Notes to editors

CIMA (the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) is a leading professional body that offers an internationally recognised qualification in management accountancy, focussing on accounting in business and the public sector. It is the fastest growing UK based membership body, in terms of members, in both the UK and worldwide and is the voice of over 85,000 students and 65,000 members in 156 countries. CIMA professionally qualified, ACMA & FCMA management accountants work in industry, commerce and not-for-profit and CIMA has more members in the public sector than any other UK based body. CIMA prides itself on the commercial relevance of its syllabus, which is in tune with the activities of high performance organisations, and evolves continually reflecting the latest developments in global business. It is committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards of members and students, and to maintaining public confidence in management accountancy.