HFMA

NHS England has written to all trust, integrated care board (ICB) and regional senior managers to warn that a ‘significant disruption’ has emerged in relation to the supply of bone cement products.

Full story (HFMA members only) buff.ly/qOPPxxm

Better Care Fund faces changes as part of reform process The government is making changes to the Better Care Fund (BCF) in 2026/27 to support its vision of establishing a neighbourhood health service.

NHS finance news:

The government is making changes to the Better Care Fund in 2026/27 to support its vision of establishing a neighbourhood health service.

Full story for HFMA members:

Did you know: prescribing accounts for 10% of healthcare spend?

This new HFMA briefing explores the role of leadership, systems and processes that need to be in place and to engage with clinical colleagues to effectively manage medicines expenditure.

Read here: buff.ly/uMUWvaL

At last week's winter leadership forum, Siva Anandaciva, director of policy, events and partnerships at The King's Fund spoke about the 2026 NHS landscape and what this means for finance leaders.

Afterwards we asked him what messages he would have for finance leaders. Here's what he had to say.

📆 Save the date: the second forum of the HFMA's newly established CEO Network is scheduled for 3 June 2026.

The event is free to attend, and will be chaired by Professor Andy Hardy, CEO of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

Please share with CEO colleagues: buff.ly/4LN9f10

Financial incentives could assist shift to community care Adjusting tariffs to incentivise outpatient care over inpatient care can help to shift activity into different settings.

NHS finance news🗞️

Adjusting tariffs to incentivise outpatient care over inpatient care can help to shift activity into different settings, which could support the shift of care from hospitals and into the community, a report has found.

Full story (HFMA members only):

Across December's HFMA annual conference, we spoke to speakers, delegates, and HFMA colleagues to distil some of the recurring themes and highlights from the event. These have been produced as part of three-part miniseries of the HFMAtalk podcast.

Listen to the miniseries: buff.ly/wWDxvxl

The final episode from the HFMAtalk podcast annual conference mini series is now available.

Steve Brown, editor of Healthcare Finance magazine, breaks down the key points from Elizabeth O’Mahoney’s session where she outlined her immediate priorities for the NHS finance function: buff.ly/KMkv50F

The HFMA policy team met last week to discuss the work plan for the year, making sure the association produces resources that support finance colleagues to deliver the three shifts outlined in the 10-year plan.

Find out more about the HFMA's policy work in the January update: buff.ly/7yIPAj5

What does the ten-year plan mean for NHS finance professionals, and what are the priorities from sector colleagues? In our HFMAtalk annual conference special, we spoke with keynote speakers and HFMA delegates to discuss the plan's implications and implementation. Listen online. buff.ly/YigTptO

In the second episode of our HFMAtalk annual conference specials, we reflect on day two of the event focusing on the NHS ten year plan. We spoke to keynote speakers and HFMA delegates to find out how the plan will be implemented and the various challenges along the way.

Listen: buff.ly/BBMdk2o

Health secretary Wes Streeting has announced that the country’s best-run hospitals and community health trusts will be handed more independence, which will include greater financial flexibility.

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The shortlists for the HFMA awards 2025 are out!

We had a record number of nominations this year – a testament to the exceptional work across the NHS finance community.

Huge thanks to everyone who nominated, our sponsors and our judging panels.
Congrats to all shortlisted entries! buff.ly/HEJzIjO

The HFMA 2025 annual conference is just three weeks away! Join 500+ NHS finance peers to network, learn, and think differently about the future of the NHS.

Limited packages and discounts available, don’t miss out.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used across the NHS and features in the 10-year health plan. This briefing introduces AI, its uses, benefits and risks, plus key factors for implementation and governance.

You can read the briefing here: buff.ly/2eSgoQM

A great first forum as part of our newly launched CEO Network in London today.

Thank you to our speakers including Bas Sadiq, Hardev Virdee, Dr Penny Dash and Sir Jeremy Hunt, our event sponsors AdviseInc, and to all of our delegates for joining.

Stay tuned for future events: buff.ly/2HDsaEs

This case study from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust shows how prioritising staff development during financial challenge improved culture, morale and performance.

Read more: buff.ly/9h7z2bS

Changes in payment approaches and allocations, released in the planning guidance covering the next three years, represent the ‘biggest shake-up of the NHS financial regime in more than a decade’, NHS England said.

Read more here: buff.ly/YHvAh8u

The government's 10-year health plan cannot succeed unless NHS financial flows are changed, but this will require courage from NHS leaders, says the NHS Confederation's Skeena Williamson in this HFMA blog.

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The government’s liability for NHS clinical negligence claims in England has risen to £60bn, four times the figure it stood at in 2006/07, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO).

Read more here: buff.ly/f0nCAHA

Catch up on the latest from our policy team in this monthly update, including:

- Developing realistic medium-term financial plans
- Exploring the 10-year plan for NHS finance staff
- Roundtable discussions on value-based healthcare
- Motivating teams through financial challenges

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Some of the #NHSfinance news headlines from this week include:

🔉 Social care vacancy rates fall but recruitment challenges persist
🔉 More capital investment ‘critical’ to deliver the 10-year health plan
🔉 NHS clinical negligence liability costs rise to £60m

Get the full stories: buff.ly/xyXwihs

In the latest episode of HFMAtalk, Phill Wells, deputy chief financial officer - strategic finance, NHS England, provides a detailed overview and takes questions on the NHS 10-year plan and its impact on finance professionals within the health service. Listen to the episode here: buff.ly/NdktkuD

Today we celebrated the graduation of the latest group of students from the HFMA qualifications programme. Congratulations to all of our graduates, and thank you for being a part of what was a wonderful event!

FINAL REMINDER!

Nominations for the HFMA Awards 2025 close today Friday 10 October at 5pm!

Help us shine a light on the outstanding work in healthcare finance – submit your entry today and celebrate with us at the annual conference in December.

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Digitally supported monitoring in inpatient mental health This case study describes how digital observations can improve patient safety in an inpatient setting

Policy alert: Digitally supported monitoring in inpatient mental health: a case study from NHS mental health trusts, www.hfma.org.uk/publications...

Digital medicine, genomics, AI and robotics could transform healthcare. This case study shows how digital technologies boost risk management, care quality and efficiency in mental health inpatient facilities.

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Prime minister Keir Starmer used his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference last week to announce the launch of an NHS ‘online hospital’ for elective care that will give patients more control over their treatment.
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The NHS in Wales remains a long way from living within its means, according to Audit Wales, after it reported that all seven health boards again breached their statutory duty to break even in 2024/25.
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HFMA networks connect finance professionals to share solutions, discuss challenges, and provide a unified voice. Free to join for anyone in an HFMA partner organisation.

See upcoming events and get involved: buff.ly/mc0om4M