Financial assurance and care audit 

Published 28 March, 2024

Overview

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB commissioned Xyla in June 2018, to initially complete 375 domiciliary audit cases per month. We were commissioned due to pressures from a significantly reduced resource within their inhouse team, alongside a need to be mindful of available budget; an opportunity was identified where Xyla could make significant savings for the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB.

The relationship between West Hampshire and Xyla developed rapidly as Xyla continued to make a positive impact year on year, resulting in us adapting to support with more cases to free up much needed resource elsewhere within the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB team.

Our caseload often exceeded 400 per month, supporting a range of funding types including continuing health care, funding without prejudice, non-weight bearing and discharge to assess pathways. We bring flexibility and adapt to the needs of the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB where required. This helps us manage a growing number of cases each year. 

Our approach

  • We receive weekly timesheets from the 120+ care providers across the region, who are providing care for the patients on behalf of NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB. Xyla are then able to compare the commissioned value against the actual care that has been provided, to ensure any discrepancies are identified, often resulting in huge savings for the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB. 
  • There can be a variety of reasons that ‘actual care’ costs can be significantly different to the commissioned amount, such as an unforeseen stay in hospital for example, and therefore this is where discrepancies are discovered by the team. 
  • We then validate the invoices against actual care delivered to ensure the provider is not charging. The NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB are then able to use this system to process the invoices for payment of the correct amount. 
  • Xyla also carry out monthly audits; we open conversations with the care providers to ensure that the arrangements are still current, we then spend time speaking with the next of kins/families of the service user (known as ‘wellbeing checks’) to discuss any changes and ensure all parties are fully aware and happy with the care being received. 

As part of our work, between April 2021 to April 2022, we also identified 53 safeguarding issues that were immediately raised with the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB for actioning. Without such calls to the families, these safeguarding issues may not be raised so quickly and efficiently to ensure action is taken imminently. 

Impact

Total saving for the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB from April 2021 to April 2022 was £1,067,027.10 

We work to a 48-hour Service Level Agreement (SLA) on our administration of emails for the account 

From April 2021 – April 2022 we identified 53 safeguarding issues that were immediately raised with the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB 

Xyla collaborated with SBS who provide a smooth invoice service, raising no issues with payments and processes. They email out a remittance advice on the back of the invoices processed

Testimonials

“When I joined the ICB (CCG as it was then) we were already using Caretrack and the domiciliary care invoice validation service. This service works really well and has literally saved us £m’s and certainly significantly more than it costs. In 2020 we opted for a payment by schedule process for the majority of our residential providers.

Xyla supported us through this change and there have been no major issues since. As part of this process Xyla undertake a monthly telephone audit with our providers to check that the client is still a resident with no changes. This process has also generated significant savings and more than paid for itself.

The team at Xyla have always worked collaboratively with us and they are responsive to our needs and requests. The add-on services offered by Xyla have saved us time and money.” 

– David Holdsworth, Deputy Finance Manager
Hampshire Continuing Healthcare 

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