Financial Costs and Pressures course for GPs

This session examines how resources are managed within financial constraints. It introduces basic financial accounting terms and principles essential for planning and managing services. The session supports the development of leadership in clinical settings.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Examine the budget-setting process
• Define service costs using basic accounting terms, and examine the implications of changes to services in these terms
• Examine how health services are costed and how changes in service can impact on costs and budgets
• Identify reporting arrangements and protocols for managing financial and other resources which are a cost to the health service
• Explore the impact of financial pressures on the health service
• Identify where the clinician can contribute to using finances and resources efficiently

In order to provide optimal care to patients, hospital departments and primary care aim to utilise the best available resources.