On this page:

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE EFFICIENCY TECHNICAL NOTES: MARCH 2005: page 28

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE EFFICIENCY TECHNICAL NOTES: MARCH 2005

1. Portfolio/Number/Name:H/C2 NHS Support Service Reform

2. Programme/Activity: Please include a short description

Shared Support Services for NHS Financial Processing & Reporting and NHS Payroll Services. Model is based around a virtual model with two Hubs (Finance and Payroll) and twelve Spokes. Shared Support Services is an organisational design involving the standardisation and consolidation of dispersed common activities whilst harnessing available technology.

3. Planned Savings

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

Cash (m)

0

0

10

Time Releasing (m)

0

0

0

4. Accountable Officer for delivery

Kevin Woods

5. Project Manager

Peter Collings

6. EGDG account manager

Gillian Woolman

7. Quality Impact

Describe any impact on the quality of service delivery. Be specific and explain if the expectation is positive, negative or neutral.

The quality of the service will improve despite the reduced cost of running this model of delivery. Advances in technology are to be harnessed as part of the anticipated positive improvements.

8. Dependencies

Explain if your savings are dependant on legislation or other structural changes being achieved.

Dependant on major structural changes within the finance community in terms of technology utilised, ways of working and major reduction in staff numbers.

9. Description of efficiency and actions to be taken

9.1 How will the saving be made? Be specific about number/size of contracts, staff, posts dates etc.

Savings are primarily centred around a reduction in staff numbers (604 WTEs). Savings are also anticipated in relation to a common system. A phased implementation is expected to commence in April 2006.

Capital costs of the project are estimated at 13.789m, and associated project revenue costs are 12.359m. Once completed, the overall revenue savings to NHSScotland is 10.122m on a recurring basis.

9.2 What action is critically needed to secure delivery of this saving? Be specific, and name the key action managers if they are outwith your immediate management chain (e.g. in an NDPB.)

Delivery is dependant on individual NHSScotland cooperation. It is also imperative that the necessary IT infrastructure is in place to accommodate the process at a local level. The project is being managed by NHS National Services Scotland with the Chief Executive as the Accountable Officer.

10. Impact on Staffing to achieve the efficiency gain

If there are to be any changes in staff numbers (at activity level) to achieve the efficiency gain, please indicate how many full time equivalents and how far you expect savings to be achieved by natural wastage (show additions as + and reductions as -).

2005- 06

2006- 07

2007- 08

+

-

-604

Net

-604

Explanation

Release of established posts at 23 NHSScotland bodies. No compulsory redundancies, all achieved via redeployment & early retirements for example.

11. Benefits

In general, the benefits of the Scottish Executive Efficiency Plan are the enhanced outputs from the resources Ministers have been able to allocate in SR04. But if there is a direct connection between this efficiency saving and the enhancement of a particular service please describe it here.

This project aims to make efficiency savings within NHSScotland, whilst at the same time making a general improvement in the quality of financial/management information.

12. Gross/Net Cash Savings

12.1 Please set out the gross recurring saving and any offsetting recurring expenditure.

Gross Recurrent Savings 17.15m

Running Costs 7.03m

Net Recurrent Saving 10.12m

This is the anticipated full year saving from fiscal year 2007-08.

12.2 Against what budget does this saving fall?

Budget savings are administrative, falling against Non-Clinical Service Costs.

12.3 Has this saving been built into your budget?

These savings are built into existing budgets. It is expected that these savings will be released to frontline services.

12.4 If so, what is the maximum allowable expenditure against the budget data, in each year, for that saving to be delivered?

NHSScotland Health Boards are expected to remain within their Revenue Resource Limit (RRL). This is part of a broader, overall expectation.

12.5 If not, how do you propose to invest the additional cash back into public services?

N/A

12.6 What plans do you have to exceed the required saving? Explain by how much in each year?

There are no plans to exceed the required saving.

13. Time - release savings

13.1 Please explain any time-releasing savings indicated at question 3.

N/A

13.2 Please describe the method you plan to use to calculate the cash equivalent of those time release savings.

N/A

14. Measurement and Monitoring

14.1 How are you proposing to measure the expected efficiency benefits (e.g. in terms of costs, level of output or quality of service)?

Expected efficiency benefits will be measured in financial terms. In addition, benchmarking exercises will be conducted to ensure the range of benefits anticipated is being achieved in terms of quality and quantity expectations (which will be detailed in the Full Business Case in due course).

14.2 What monitoring & reporting procedures will be put in place to measure the efficiency savings (How often will progress towards the target be monitored?

Monitoring and reporting arrangements will be agreed as the project evolves. Individual organisations will be considered during the implementation stage and compared to original expectations. As part of the business case process, a post project evaluation will also be completed.

Who will have lead responsibility for reporting progress and what procedures will be in place?)

The project team will be responsible for information relating to savings and quality improvements and submitting this to the Health Department quarterly.

14.3 Monitoring Data: Sources, validation and risks

  • What data will be used to measure progress? Is all the required information quantifiable and readily available? If not what action willl be taken to rectify this?

  • What measures will be in palce to validate the accuracy of the data? Who will take responsibility for this?

  • Are there any issues or risks relating to how you plan to use the data? (eg accuracy, difficulties in collection).

    Financial and HR information will be utilised for measuring performance. This will be initiated by the project team. NHSScotland Health Boards will independently provide information on the impact of the project and the validity of information. Details of finalised savings will be detailed as part of the Full Business Case. Full sign up of CEOs to the project releases a conservative 10m per annum recurring saving from 2007-08.

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Page updated: Thursday, March 31, 2005