NHS England (NHSE) wanted to find opportunities to provide more effective and efficient ways of delivering the Revalidation Service – Payment of Appraiser process. MLCSU, NEL, AGEM and NECS CSUs worked collaboratively with NHSE on an options appraisal and implementation plan.
Action
The CSUs worked collaboratively with NHSE to find opportunities to provide more effective and efficient ways of delivering the service. The review highlighted:
* substantial variation in the process between all of the local and regional offices
* two teams outsource to HEE, 13 use PO, four use non-PO, five use NHAIS, five use the RMS template, 11 send invoices sent direct to SBS, six submit direct to the team
* invoicing frequency varies
* trade shift usage varies
* substantial workload pressures
* every query about payment from an appraiser requires input from the local office
* use of a variable number of FTE, dependent on the structure chosen in local office
* average invoice is between £700-800, £23million per annum, 46,000 doctors, 3,000 appraisers.
Following an options appraisal, NECS CSU delivered a three-day workshop with NHSE colleagues to process map and understand the current and future state of the service.
Impact
The revised and automated process is enabling NHSE to free up resource in the move to STPs and support administration work required for the substantial uplift in revalidation recommendations commencing from March 2018.
The review led to creation of a process which will result in:
* one consistent process for the payment of appraisal work undertaken by GP appraisers
* no POs – no invoices – no receipting, saving substantial time and effort in the local offices managing and reconciling invoicing
* removal of variation between the local offices, reducing confusion for appraisers
* speeding up of the production of reports to understand payment and pension position for local offices
* reduced accrual amounts for local offices because payment does not need to wait for an invoice
* reliable indication to appraisers of payments paid and outstanding, removing queries that had to be handled by the local office
RMS developments included:
* revised email templates
* holding supplier information (not bank details), holding and processing pension information
* holding history about payments made by the team
* reporting on payments
* consultancy agreements moving online – one click acceptance by the appraiser.