NHS Lanarkshire is inviting staff to shape Better Value Together – our approach to improving services, working more efficiently and making the best use of our resources.
To ensure staff feedback sits at the heart of the programme, we have created Your Ideas Matter – a quick and simple online form to capture your suggestions: Your Ideas Matter.
Better Value Together is being led by Director of Finance Fiona McEwan (pictured) and is part of a structured approach to improving NHS Lanarkshire’s long-term financial position.
Fiona said: “The goal is to bring NHS Lanarkshire into recurring financial balance within five years. In simple terms, that means closing the gap between what we spend and what we receive in a way that lasts, instead of relying on one-off fixes. A stronger financial position will help us use our resources better to improve the health of our population and patient outcomes.”
There is already progress to build on. Recurring prescribing savings are being delivered, and supplementary staffing – such as agency, bank staff and overtime – has reduced. These are good examples of where change is already making a difference to our financial sustainability.
The programme will be taken forward through six workstreams covering workforce, procurement and non-pay, prescribing, estates and infrastructure, performance, productivity and redesign, and digital innovation. These groups will help turn ideas into action and keep the focus on changes that can deliver lasting benefit.
Staff-side representatives will be involved throughout. Staff-side representatives have been nominated to workstreams, with the work feeding into a monthly Sustainability and Value Corporate Management Team meeting. Plans will also come through the Area Partnership Forum so there is visibility of progress and next steps.
Fiona said: “Staff know better than anyone where we can improve services and work more efficiently, which is why listening to staff will be such an important part of this programme. We want to get out and meet teams across the organisation to share what we are doing and hear your ideas.
“It’s all about making practical changes we can build on year after year, helping us make better use of our resources and continue improving care for patients. For example, where do you see waste, unnecessary spend or variation across sites?
“Even a seemingly small change like moving from colour printing to black and white would save around £100,000 a year across the organisation.
“Better Value Together will look at where we need to do things differently – from redesigning services and improving efficiency to being more open to innovation and invest-to-save opportunities. Put simply, this is about building a stronger, more sustainable NHS Lanarkshire, with staff playing a key role in shaping the future.”
Visit Your Ideas Matter now to share your idea or contact lan.nhsldof@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk if your team or department would like to learn more about Better Value Together.
