NHS shared services take-up rises

Health organisations save an average of 34 per cent of costs

The NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) venture has attracted 55 new customers in its first year since becoming a public-private partnership.

NHS SBS is a joint venture between the Department of Health (DH) and supplier Xansa, delivering finance, accounting and payroll services to 79 health organisation from four centres across the country.

DH started a shared financial services programme in 2003 but the scheme stalled after only 36 customers signed up.

NHS SBS has been more successful, and by April this year 101 organisations including Strategic Health Authorities, mental health trusts and foundation hospitals will be using the service and saving an average of 34 per cent of costs.

But financial savings are less important than the business transformation, says NHS SBS director of business development Jonathan Morgan.

‘It is not just about back-office savings, though substantial – it is about changing the way people work,’ he said.

Ovum analyst Tola Sargeant added: ‘NHS SBS has done the easy part because there was a backlog of trusts waiting for the JV to go live before they signed up. The next customers will be the tricky ones to win over.’