Back to Basics - Financial Controls: A Toolkit for the NHS

In NHS finance, there can be a tendency to focus on the demands of the latest high profile policy announcements and lose sight of the need to maintain a sound underlying framework of governance. Often when governance difficulties occur, a failure to get the basics right is a root cause - developing and maintaining good systems of control is therefore essential. Within each cycle there is a range of sub categories with control objectives. For each of these the toolkit explains: Controls needed to achieve the objective, Why these controls are important, How frequently to apply the control, The nature of the control (in other words, is it designed to ensure completeness; accuracy; validity; promptness; value for money or security?) The format of the toolkit allows organisations to add details of who is responsible for the control and any action plans. Although there is a slight bias towards the NHS in England, the underlying principles and many of the controls are equally relevant to NHS organisations throughout the UK. The toolkit consists of a booklet and interactive CD that organisations can use to review their own financial controls.