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31 December 2007
NHS Shared Business Services, the joint venture between the Department of Health and Xansa, a Steria Company, has been recognised as a key success for the public sector by the National Audit Office (NAO).
The NAO's report "Improving Corporate Services Using Shared Services" named the Department of Health's leading role in driving public sector efficiency through its work on the NHS Shared Business Services project.
NHS Shared Business Services is already delivering to almost 25% of NHS organisations and the NAO analysis predicts savings of £250 million over 11 years. Despite some early challenges the report outlines the gains which are starting to be realised as a result of access to better management information, improved financial control and adherence to procurement processes.
"The National Audit Office has recognised the benefits over and above the pure financial savings," said Jim Vincent, managing director NHS Shared Business Services. "Our NHS clients are benefiting from improved management information, paperless and faster transaction handling and the step change in the robustness of processes."
"These findings reinforce evidence from partner organisations, such as the recent win of the HFMA's Financial Management Award by Bromley Primary Care Trust who cite that working with NHS Shared Business Services has enabled them to improved financial control, forecasting, financial awareness and ownership across the whole organisation" Vincent added.
The Department of Health will continue to support the development of additional services by NHS SBS to drive further efficiency, savings and access to data, according to Peter Coates, Deputy Director of Finance at the Department of Health.
"The benefits delivered by NHS Shared Business Services are helping to transform our NHS," Peter said. "and clearly demonstrate both the financial and non-financial rewards which constitute the compelling business case for shared services."
Our joint venture is able to deliver a successful shared services business. I'd like to see the model replicated across the public sector.
A delegation from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, including the Chairman, Edward Leigh MP, and Dr John Pugh MP recently visited the NHS SBS Leeds service centre and described the operation as impressive.
