Karen Hamilton

Value Maker Regional Lead London

Bio:

I am responsible for leading and developing the lean process improvement programme across the finance function and other functions where finance is part of a process (e.g. cross-cutting finance/HR/IM&T processes). I also champion staff development within the finance department and help integrate new structures for the combined organisation.

I have over 30 years’ experience of NHS Finance function starting from my early days as trainee accounts assistant to senior roles (after qualifying over 25 years ago) in Management Accounts, Commissioning, Costing and Service Line Reporting to my present role.

I am a member of the London FSD board and sit on various groups locally and nationally covering Diversity and Inclusion.

My passion to effect changes for both present and older generations was a big driver to becoming a value maker. I wanted to ensure that there was continuity of this key service today and in the foreseeable future for the present generation when the time comes.

Ultimately I believe finance has a great role in delivering excellence, high quality service for the patients that use it. I believe we have many examples of best practice in the NHS and we need a forum to showcase those ideas across London. FFF is the best place for this and as a collective we build awareness and participation across the patch.

Key factors to all this is the staff and their development. We need to ensure finance staff have the tools they need for the ever changing roles within the Finance function.  This can be done in many ways through formal classes, sharing ideas, networking.

Karen Hamilton, Head of finance performance, improvement & development, Royal Free London NHS FT