Simon Brook explains the new changes to NHS Pension Schemes.

By Simon Brook FCA, Medical Practice Specialist, Price Bailey LLP

There have been numerous changes to pension rules recently in particular the virtual rewriting of the rules concerning contributions and benefit limits.

By Simon Brook FCA, Medical Practice Specialist, Price Bailey LLP

Managing an efficient and effective commercial practice is central to achieving profitability and long-term success. However, obtaining the desired level of effectiveness is not simply down to cost control and raising productivity.

By Andrew Sykes, Senior Manager on the PFI and Project Finance Team, the Co-operative Bank.

New legislation has meant that the sands are shifting in the structuring of the primary care landscape. Government initiatives are challenging the traditional establishment of out-of-town hospitals and PCT�s to reconsider the location and structure of their care facilities. But as with all things, these changes come at a price.

Mark Johnson, Director, Real Asset Management (RAM)

Unless there is a significant improvement in the monitoring and management of capital expenditure projects, Primary Care Trusts will struggle to respond to increasing scrutiny from auditors and public alike.

Michael Penn, Healthcare Specialist Accountant, Hillier Hopkins LLP

With rumours of an income freeze for a third year running and increasing competition from private organisations, there are likely to be difficult times ahead for many GP practices. Increasing costs and no increase in income are currently showing average profit reductions of around eight per cent for the current year.

By David Ingall FCA, Managing Partner, JWPCreers

Ken Dodd was once quoted as saying “I told the Inland Revenue I didn’t owe them a penny because I lived by the seaside.” There are so many bits and pieces of tax and associated legislation that it is impossible to know everything and there are constant tweaks and alterations to the tax rule books.

By Mark Duman, pharmacist, Honorary President of the Patient Information Forum, and Manager, BearingPoint UK

Recent reports from the Health Foundation, Picker Institute, Nuffield Trust, and EuroHealth Consumer Index, each highlight that patient and public engagement in healthcare in the UK still has to take some considerable strides to improve.

By Norma Beavers

The NHS is on course to record a surplus of nearly 1 billion pouns this year but the statistics show 22 NHS Trusts are in deficit. Some recorded a worsening financial position while other Trusts have gone into the red for the first time.

Unpopular NHS accounting rules have been overturned with the start of the new financial year following recommendations from the Audit Commission. The changes will deliver an accounting system tailored to fit an NHS featuring Payment by Results, foundation trusts, independent sector treatment centres, patient choice, Practice Based Commissioning and reorganised strategic health authorities and primary care trusts.