“Delivered with zest and humour :)”

Today was a chance to run a workshop in Cressing Temple Barns in Braintree, Essex. It’s a remarkable series of farm buildings, two of the finest Templar barns in Europe, a Templar Well and Tudor walled gardens with origins in the 12th Century when it was the first land grant given to the Knights Templar. Today’s The NHS Budget Holder’s Survival Guide was timely reminder of the continuing need for targeted financial training for managers and clinicians on all aspects of budgeting and finance. One of the key messages from the day is that budgets include the concept of negotiation and agreement of an acceptable and balanced level of funding, staffing and activity. Budgets are very different from allocations, which are at the other end of the involvement spectrum. Allocations are fixed, arbitrary and imposed.

Comments from today’s event include (with written permission received from each participant):

“Delivered with zest and humour :)” – Debs Newman, Ops Manager, Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
“Just brilliant.” – Craig Mackerness, R&D Manager
“Excellent session made very interesting and easy to understand.” – Paula Taylor, Deputy Radiotherapy Manager, Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
“Easy to follow.” – Alison Dickinson, AGM, Peterborough NHS Trust
“Excellent day – liked the action plan page.” – Karen Pearce, AGM Surgery, Peterborough NHS Trust

Many thanks to everyone who participated in such an enjoyable day.