2010-03-16 11:17:10 - East Lancashire Financial Services (ELFS) (www.elfsnhs.co.uk), a UK provider of business shared services to NHS client organisations, announces that it is expanding its reach across the UK in partnership with business software provider, COA Solutions (www.coasolutions.com). ELFS provides NHS organisations with fully-flexible accounting, financial management, procurement, ESR payroll, online expenses and other tailored shared service solutions.

Historically, ELFS has focused on the provision of shared services to North West NHS organisations but is now expanding its services to NHS organisations across the UK, for example, Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. This strategy is in response to increasing demand from NHS organisations for more economical and efficient ways to operate their finance, accounting, ESR payroll and business software systems.

Graham Gornall, Director Shared Services from ELFS, says, “Driven by the NHS operating framework and the increasing pressure on NHS organisations to cut their back-office administration significantly, more and more NHS organisations are looking at a shared service approach to managing their financial, payroll and business software systems. The decision to expand our reach across the

whole of the UK will enable even more NHS organisations to benefit from our financial and business shared services, which have an excellent track record of being competitively-priced, flexible and quality focused.”

COA Solutions has been ELFS Shared Services chosen software partner since 2002, providing the financial software systems to support a large number of North West based clients. COA Solutions will now be working in partnership with ELFS to help deliver shared services to NHS organisations across the UK.

Gornall says, “We have a long history of successfully working with COA Solutions to deliver business shared services to NHS organisations across the North West and are pleased that COA Solutions is now our UK-wide software partner. Collaboration with COA Solutions will undoubtedly prove key to the success of our UK-wide strategy.”

Peter Leigh, Health Sector Sales Manager from COA Solutions, comments, “Like ELFS, COA Solutions is a UK-based and UK-focused company that fully understands the needs of NHS businesses and can respond quickly and effectively to meet their software needs. COA Solutions and ELFS also share the same customer service values, recognising the importance of delivering a personal and flexible service. As ELFS enters the next phase of its growth, we look forward to a long and successful partnership moving forward.”

-ENDS-


About ELFS www.elfsnhs.co.uk
ELFS Shared Services, a business division of Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has been delivering shared services to its NHS client base since 2002. ELFS provides a choice of services such as business systems management, accounting and reporting services, purchase to pay, accounts receivable, fixed assets, payroll, pensions administration and expense payments. Its unique, flexible and tailored shared service offering enables NHS Trusts to focus on managing their own business improvement activities and strategic decision making.

With strong endorsements from all its 11 NHS client organisations, ELFS has demonstrated over the years, both the principle and benefits of using shared services, making ELFS the preferred choice for NHS Trusts seeking to outsource and modernise their back-office service delivery using a flexible, innovative shared services provider. Through its focus on operational excellence, quality of delivery and commitment to customer service, ELFS clients are confident that they have the support they need and are able to access expert advice when required. ELFS’s team has many years’ experience working with NHS clients in delivering projects to plan and developing future-proof solutions to support their strategic objectives.


ELFS Shared Services NHS client base includes a mix of acute, learning disability and mental heath organisations as well as primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.


About COA Solutions www.coasolutions.com
COA Solutions is the UK's leading supplier of integrated business management and information systems to public, private and not-for-profit organisations in the service sector. COA Solutions prides itself on getting close to its customers by understanding their businesses and responding to their business needs.

COA Solutions' award-winning Smart Business Suite combines core financial management, procurement, human resource and payroll systems, integrated with a range of collaborative, document management and business intelligence solutions. COA Solutions also provides managed service and bureau service options. Its systems and services extend the value and effectiveness of the finance, HR and payroll departments across the organisation and enable managers in the business to monitor, analyse and continually improve corporate performance.

COA Solutions has more than 500 experienced and professional staff supporting and servicing over 4,000 clients across the UK service sector including Companies House, Newcastle City Council, WHSmith, Royal Bank of Scotland, Aer Lingus, National Express Group, DFS, RSPB and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust.

COA Solutions is an Advanced Computer Software Plc group company.

About The NHS Operating Framework www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publicat ..

The operating framework for the NHS for 2010/11 sets out the priorities for the NHS for the year ahead to enable them to begin their planning.

As part of the operating framework, The NHS has been urged to go ‘further and deeper’ in generating cash-releasing efficiency savings. The NHS is already expected to produce cashable efficiencies of 3% for each year of the current spending review period, which ends in 2010/11.

Primary care trusts and NHS trusts will be expected to explore the opportunities identified under the cross-government Operational Efficiency Programme, where further efficiency savings can be secured from 2010/11. These include greater use of shared services for back-office operations such as finance and human resources, increased use of collaborative procurement and more commercial and efficient use of assets.