Lynn Browell, Associate Director of Financial Services at County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust talks to Hospital Management about invoicing within a healthcare setting.

It could be easy to think that public health organisations are awash with inefficient processes and fail to control their finances adequately. But many of us run tight ships, where financial process and strategy is directly linked to the organisation’s goals and where cash flow and spend visibility is a ‘must have’. In fact, being under the lights of public scrutiny means those of us in hospital management who strive to be business-like take that role very seriously indeed.

At County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust one example of this is the fact that our purchasing and supply strategy is directly linked to our business goals. As an organisation we’re focused on delivering the best possible care for the best possible budget – that’s about balancing quality and efficiency in every single process. In recent years we have worked to streamline our financial and purchasing processes to the maximum, giving us a clear picture of our cash and spending position at all times. In fact, the private sector could learn a thing or two from our approach. Read More