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December 2009 The National Audit Office Alumni Newsletter Refurb of 157-197 BPR touch
intouchIssue One January 2008 December 2009The National Audit Office Alumni Newsletter
Refurb of 157-197 BPR
touch
The annual Pop Quiz proved a big hit once again, and in this case I think we should let the pictures do the talking
Welcome
Since the last issue of In Touch back in July 2008, there have been yet more changes at the NAO – not least a new
Alumni Group organising team, comprising Laura Jones, Jo Carabott, Santosh Gora, Karen Heard, Jo Penney and myself.
Of course there is also the small matter of a new C&AG, new Board and Chairman, and a new NAO strategy!In this issue we try to cover at least some of these changes, along with giving you an update on a selection of regular activities and events around the Office…
The annual Pop Quiz proved a big hit once again, and in this case I think we should let the pictures do the talking – turn to page four.
Some of the more serious events we’ve been involved in are also featured – the Civil Service Live show at Olympia, the Living the Values Awards ceremony and our Keynote Speakers’ lunchtime talks.
We also catch up with two NAO retirees, Rosie Norgrove and Steve Doughty to find out what they’re up to now; whilst at the other end of the career path we take a look at our AAT scheme.
Our most recent Alumni event took place on November 12th at the Science Museum and you can read a review of the evening on page eight.
We hope to hold the next event at our newly refurbished offices, so watch out for news of that next year.
Finally, for all you social networking types, we have now created an NAO Alumni Facebook group, so please feel free to join.
Wishing you all the very best for 2010,
Sarah Threapleton
“ “YouTube the NAOYou can now keep ‘In Touch’ with what the NAO is producing on You Tube – www.youtube.com/nationalaudit.Current content includes supplementary videos and case studies on our published reports – Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis and Changing culture strengthening delivery.
Facebook GroupThe NAO Alumni Group is now on Facebook. This is another opportunity to keep in touch, and we will be using it to announce events and post photos. Come and join us! www.facebook.com
Drinks invitationLast Friday of the month drinks at the Belgravia have been introduced to provide an opportunity for staff and ex-staff to network and socialise in relaxed surroundings with a drink, nibbles and good company.The next one will be held from 5pm on Friday 25th of January. We look forward to seeing you there.
Spare time on your hands?Would you like to write for ‘In Touch’ magazine or have a good idea for a story? If you do, please get in touch with a member of the Alumni Team
Sarah [email protected]
Laura [email protected]
Santosh [email protected]
Joanna [email protected]
Johanne [email protected]
Karen [email protected]
Tel: (020) 7798 7000
The NAO’s first live-to-web conferenceOn Thursday 15 October the NAO ran a national conference entitled Improving Services for Adults with Autism. Because people on the autistic spectrum can be uncomfortable amongst large numbers of people the conference was simulaneously run live over the Internet through the NAO website. This was a first for the NAO. Live broadcast was achieved through a partnership with Policy Review TV and this enabled online delegates to view and hear sessions live and ask questions through a live text submission service.
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As you may know, the NAO’s London headquarters building at 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road has been having a full refur-bishment since late 2007. By the time you receive this issue of In Touch, we will have moved back in and be enjoying a much improved working environment.The refurbishment includes the installation of new windows, plant and services, furniture and equipment to provide a modern, open
plan, flexible working environment. As well as the provision of a new ground floor restaurant and coffee shop there will be an auditorium and enhanced facilities to support cyclists.
A bit of historyThe central portion of the National Audit Office’s headquarters was originally built in 1939 for Imperial Airways and described by The Times as “the finest air terminal in the world”. The building reflected the art deco style of the time including a statue, “Wings over the World”, sculpted by E R Broadbent. Over the years, the building inevitably de-veloped to meet the requirements of its occupants and the National Audit Office ac-quired the building in 1984.
The Refurbishment of 157-197 BPR“
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a modern, open plan, flexible working environment
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Johnny Mood was there to report
Pop Quiz 2009
It was the morning after the night before and productiv-ity hit an all time high as col-leagues urgently gathered to piece together recollections of Pop Quiz. Did we really see a young man racing through Victoria dressed as a bride? Did we imagine the team dressed
as John Bourn? And if we didn’t, was that in fact Amyas Morse or just a bril-liant costume? Did we dance sitting on the floor? And did someone really put the unintentional and thoroughly Freudian answer, Will Smith “Men in Black Men”? Yes, yes, all yes.Frivolity aside, there was the serious business of quizzing. Held simultane-ously in London and Newcastle the
competition was fierce. The winners in London (Great Expectations) and Newcastle (Pirates of the Caribbean) both finished on an incredible 183 points. The Pirates team were pushed all the way in Newcastle and an honour-able mention goes to the Die Hard team who after two recounts were confirmed in second place on 182 points. The fancy dress was as spirited as the re-freshments and deciding winners proved tough, but two outfits emerged victori-ous. The Transformers team showed they were more than auditors in disguise with a fantastic effort displaying creative skills hitherto unsuspected. Up north, team effort was laid aside and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume was plucked out of the Ghostbusters team for the ac-colade of best in show at Newcastle.
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“ “The Transformers team showed they were more than auditors in disguise with a fantastic effort displaying creative skills hitherto unsuspected
Jon de keyser gives us an update on sporting achievements
Team NAO sporting and social prowess
While we may be a desk-based organisat ion we do occa-sionally enjoy blowing away the cobwebs.
As well as work-related exercise that comes from scaling mountains of barley, trekking around the countryside to count farmers’ fields, and explorations into the artic conditions of minus 30 degree freez-ers, the NAO has a great tradition of work-based sporting and social events.
Two wheels goodThe NAO cycling fraternity continues to grow ever stronger with more and more converts to two wheels spurred on by the summery weather and credit crunchitis. However, we still have a long way to go on the organisational culture. We are continuing to push senior management to sign up to the government’s tax-free cycle purchase scheme. While thousands of private sector organisations offer this to staff the NAO, and indeed departments across Whitehall, are dragging their heels. The benefits to staff, the environment and the NAO are evident and there seems to be a lot of interest in the office.
Some of the peloton from the Newcastle office are planning a Coast2Coast ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland for April 2010 in support of the office charity.
With a gym and fitness centre due to be up and running in the new building by March 2010 we should have a staff full of vitality, energy and enthusiasm (as long as the rigours of final audit and VFM clear-ance don’t take their toll).
Jumpers as goalpostsAfter weeks of preparation, gruelling fitness regimes and verbal sparring be-tween the two sides, the afternoon of 18 September 2009 finally saw the biggest game in football take place in Battersea Park. Literally tens of people turned up to watch Financial Audit take on VFM & Corporate Services in a NAOSSA-sponsored 11-a-side football match.
The first half saw a nil all tie with both teams failing to out-do each other on the pitch. After a number of changes to both teams at half time, both teams seemed to find their feet, but it was Afi Haneefi from the Financial Audit team to slot the one (and only) goal in before both teams re-tired to the pub after the whistle blowed.
We all hope it will be just the beginning of a big rivalry between the two sides.
Summiting the PeaksA select group of fighting fit, almost elite force, personnel from the Newcastle Office embarked on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in May – okay, slight ex-aggeration as true to form none of us had done any training! The plan was hatched one drunken social evening, and at the time it must have seemed like a good idea. I’m not sure that, following 12 hours of undulating walking and getting sucked into bogs, the walkers would necessarily have agreed! Ironically enough this was done in aid of the office charity – the Air Ambulance Service! I’m only grateful that none of us ended up having to call them out as it would have made our fundrais-ing efforts slightly redundant.
“ “The NAO cycling fraternity continues to grow ever stronger with more and more converts to two wheels spurred on by the summery weather and credit crunchitis
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We don’t like No – We love itUnfortunately the NAO cricket team of 2009 could not reach the dizzy heights scaled by the (almost) invincibles of 2008 who lost only one match on their way to claiming the inaugural Westminster 20:20 title. Despite picking up some promising new talent from the latest trainee intake, the loss of some key players and the post-ing of some irritating local audit place-ments meant we had a mixed season winning only half of our 13 fixtures and finishing mid table in the league. However, we did beat the Audit Commission for the fourth year in a row and with the memory of the glorious ashes victory fresh in the memory and a new crop of trainees join-ing the office the team will continue to build for next season.
When I told my work col-leagues that I was going to be part of the working group that runs the
NAO Alumni Group which, amongst other things, organises networking events, their first questions were; Where’s the event? Can I go? What is Alumni anyway?
As you know, the Alumni Group is for any ex-employee of the NAO who signs up to become a member. It’s for people who want to keep up to date with the goings-on at the Office – kind of a ‘what’s hot and what’s not’ of our little world!
And we started getting ‘In Touch’ with you (see what I did there?) a couple of months ago to invite you to the next NAO Alumni networking event.
We scouted high and low for an inter-esting venue to impress you.
One beautiful, hot, sunny day the working group had arranged a site visit to London Zoo. It seemed the perfect place – quirky, lively, with monkeys and gorillas to boot, and a fabulous event space. However, on reflection, could we really impress you with a few animals, mid November, asking you to tramp up to Regents Park in the freezing cold? We decided not. NEXT idea please…
Nice to see you againA night at a museum by Jo Penney
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Are 80 people really going to turn up? And one by one you did, a little wet and windswept but ready to embrace the chat, drinks and speeches
Cue the Science Museum – warm, spacious and offering us ‘an elegant, book-lined venue made up of four rooms. The suite was said to be ‘perfect for con-ferences, presentations and dinners’.
In our book, it sounded like a win-ner. Another site visit later and we were promptly sending out the invitations to you for Thursday 12 November 2009.
We tempted you with a welcome by Amyas Morse, the new C&AG, followed by a canapés and drinks reception in The Director’s Suite in order to give you a chance to catch up with old and new friends and colleagues. We also arranged guided tours of the museum giving you the opportunity to have a look around af-ter closing time.
The working group arrived on the night and sat ready and waiting for the door to swing open and our guests to ar-rive. The wind was howling and the rain
was pouring down. 80 people? Are 80 people really going to turn up? And one by one you did, a little wet and windswept but ready to embrace the chat, drinks and speeches. You probably didn’t bargain on the amateur photography from me but the least said about that the better!
The night went swimmingly well, the canapés arrived in full abundance, as did the wine and the conversation flowed. The new C&AG spoke animatedly about the new NAO strategy and invited you to come back and work for the NAO in the future. And you all endorsed the tours with high energy.
We can’t wait to organise another event, and as one guest on the night put it: ‘NAO Alumni events are like a box of Leonidas chocolates. Each one is unique, and very enjoyable, and leaves you won-dering whether the next one could pos-sibly be any better?’
Keynote speeches
For the past three years we have been recruiting Audit Technician Trainees to join our fast track scheme. This scheme is aimed at school leavers who want to qualify as a first rate accountants, but without the debt attached to a university education. The fast track programme is an excellent opportunity for those who already know where their career passion lies, and are keen to get started.
In years one and two, the trainees will undertake a series of exams and work experience tailored and designed to prepare them for the ACA qualification. They then join our main Graduate programme for years three and four which leads to the full ACA qualification.
What’s the catch you might ask? There isn’t one. After a steady start, our campaign is now thriving and we are receiving record applications for the coveted positions we offer annually.
Do you know someone who would be ideal for this scheme? For further details about the scheme, job description and benefits, please refer to the vacancy notices on www.nao.org.uk
In September the London office welcomed two very different yet inspirational leaders in their respective fields. These keynote speaker sessions are an excellent way to provoke new lines of thinking amongst NAO employees.
Binna KandolaDiversity, Development and Well-Being specialist Professor Binna Kandola is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Senior Partner and co-founder of Pearn Kandola. His areas of expertise are diversity and inclusion, equal opportunities, assessment and development. He is particularly interested in understanding bias and finding ways to reduce it. In the last twenty years, he has worked on a wide variety of projects for public and private sector clients both in the UK and overseas.
As well as leading the practice, Binna is the co-author of several books, one of which, Managing the Mosaic, won a Special Commendation at the 1994 Management Book of the Year Awards. He is also a regular contributor to the HR and business press and conference speaker.
Binna visited the NAO on Wednesday 9 September to deliver a keynote speech to over 90 NAO staff. The speech was extremely interesting and included various stories and anecdotes about how our mind can subconsciously affect our decisions and actions. An interesting fact is that we may judge someone within a second of meeting them, as quickly as that. The session was both interactive and visually engaging which made the session come to life.
To sum up, the speech was inspirational and certainly gave us food for thought regarding our subconscious attitudes.
Sir Michael BarberSir Michael joined McKinsey in 2005 as the expert partner of its Global Public Sector Practice. In this capacity he has been working on major transformations of public services, especially education in the USA, UK and other countries.
Prior to joining McKinsey, he was Chief Advisor on Delivery to the Prime Minister Tony Blair. As Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, he was responsible for the oversight of implementation of the Prime Minister’s priority programmes in health, education, transport, policing, the criminal justice system and asylum/immigration.
Sir Michael arrived at the Office on Thursday 17 September to deliver a speech regarding Public Sector Transformation.
Almost 100 staff attended this session and there were plenty of questions at the end.
Following his speech, Sir Michael kindly stayed a further 2 hours to have an in-depth discussion with some NAO employees who are on our Future Leaders Programme. They enjoyed this session with Sir Michael and were able to probe on issues they would not normally be able to.
We very much appreciated the time Sir Michael invested and he gave valuable insights into the complex world of Public Sector Transformation.
Our AAT Scheme is on the up!
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Civil Service Live 2009After three days, 8,000 civil servants, five videos, three NAO workshops and a speech
from the C&AG, Civil Service Live 2009 was over for another year. This year saw the venue move from the QE2 Centre in Westminster to the larger London Olympia 2
and with the theme ‘Innovation in Action,’ and the NAO was keen to get involved again.Sandy Gordon had the task of presenting and facilitating the three NAO ‘Barriers
to innovation’ workshops which were based on the existing innovation work already undertaken coupled with the feedback on the subject from the audience at the April conference “Changing Culture, Strengthening Delivery.” Sandy asked the participants to answer five multiple choice questions using digital voting technology which also formed the basis of the C&AG’s speech. The same questions were repeated in all three workshops and collated at the end of the show to demonstrate how the views on innovation are developing within the civil service.
Meanwhile, the NAO stand was in a prime location by the front door of Olympia 2 and our NAO tote bags were in hot demand. The stand not only had a touch screen voting booth asking visitors to answer the same questions as Sandy Gordon’s workshop but also had two plasma screens showcasing five short videos on innovative projects we had looked at for our reports. These videos were designed to draw visitors to the stand to talk to NAO staff and reinforced the work the NAO has already done on innovation.
To find out more about our presence and to view the C&AG’s speech at Civil Service Live visit www.nao.org.uk/innovation
ChArlotte how and eMily wintle report back from the first ever joint nAo Awards
NAO Awards
Friday 27 March celebrated the first ever joint NAO Awards, bringing together the Living the Values and Financial Impact Awards for the first time. After an opening video, Phil Hyde and Steve Mirfin bounded on stage to introduce the cer-emony. This commendable double act provided ample opportunities for laughs (the highlight
being Steve’s air hostess impression). The duo moved seamlessly from one award to the next as the backdrop subtly changed col-ours to reflect the different awards. Steve and Phil’s colour co-ordinated wardrobe really added to the show. A comedy double act was chosen to represent each award and Steve’s love of Heat Magazine was clear.
The C&AG emphasised the importance of the ceremony in celebrating both the work we do and how we do it, whilst Ed Humpherson explained the uniqueness of the awards given previous winners selected who won this year. This was a record year for nominations with 84 cov-ering 200 people for Living the Values and 20 nominations covering 50 people for financial impacts. As the ceremony drew to a close we were entertained with a new high-light – the double act quiz. Whilst the audience answered true or false questions by turning one way or the other to see who could answer most questions right, the technical team drew together a montage of memo-rable clips from the afternoon.
“ “This commendable double act provided ample opportunities for laughs (the highlight being Steve’s air hostess impression)
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The Winners
Living the ValuesCo–operative Spirit Rebecca Sheeran and Eleanor MurrayRebecca and Eleanor won for setting up the Behaviour Change Network. Without their commitment and professional approach throughout this work would never have happened. In collecting their award they thanked all those who had supported the network and expressed hope that the network would go from strength to strength.
Valuing Individuals Jill Morris As Diversity Manager Jill pushed the boundaries in developing the sexual orientation diversity agenda which openly values differences in individuals. Although Jill couldn’t make the awards she was ecstatic: “I was really pleased when I found out and want to say a big thank you to those that nominated me.”
Making A Difference Danielle Hays With the growth of the Newcastle Office over the last year, Danielle has been influential in carrying out the duties of an Office Manager and more. The continued smooth and successful running of the Office is in many ways thanks to Danielle.
Professional ExcellenceJay Fatormah and Tom McBride (joint)Jay developed a national computer system for the Ghanaian Audit Service to support a number of networks in the region. As Jay is still in Accra, Frank Grogan collected the award on his behalf. Tom developed innovative analytical modelling techniques in the ‘’End of Life Care’’ report to quantify potential cost savings for report recommendations. Looking Outwards Phil GrovesPhil, from the Press Office, has consistently engaged study teams in the communication, planning and handling of the specific study issues. Phil said “winning this award came as a complete surprise. It’s a real honour just to be nominated, but winning was really special”.
IntegrityRebecca Sheeran and Susan RonaldsonSusan and Rebecca won for the British Council audit which required the Council to revisit its charitable objectives in liaison with the Charity Commissioners. The team’s consistent and vigorous professionalism in pursuing these issues encouraged their resolution.
Open Communications Steve DoughtyThe award recognised Steve’s work improving data security and information assurance across the Office. As a result of this the Office is now better placed to manage information and give clients assurance this is done properly.
Financial ImpactsLargest Impact 2007 Fraud against the Inland Revenue teamThe team won with a £103m impact, compared against an estimate of £2bn tax lost in the hidden economy. In collecting the awards, it was clearly a family affair as Peter Lilly, Tom Wallace and Nick Lacy all thanked their mums. Meanwhile Sarah Sharp said; “Unfortunately I couldn’t attend the ceremony and found out we’d won through a text message from a colleague Monday afternoon. The prize money will help towards a holiday to San Francisco”.
Most Innovative Impact 2007 Reducing Vehicle Crime TeamThe judging panel were impressed with how hard the team (Jon Cable, Craig Adams) worked to bring about change, how the impact was calculated and its potential for transferability. Jon and Craig were all smiles and later Craig said ‘I will be putting the prize money towards a trip to Patagonia in November to see the glaciers of South America – I’ll take a copy of ‘Green’ with me for a photograph to show I was there.’
Largest Impact 2008 Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office TeamAlthough much lower in value than other nominees the £4m impact identified by the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office audit team (Matt Kay, Ella Firman, Maggie McGhee, Rebecca Farmer, Paul Keane) was the relative largest. Considered against the body’s gross expenditure of £35m, it represented 12 per cent of costs. Most Innovative Impact 2008 Management of Large Business Corporation Tax VFM teamThe panel were impressed by the team’s (David Allen, Craig Adams, Anna Ward, Tom Wallace, Lee Anne Murray, Andy Nichols) methodological approach and use of practice networks. The panel also considered that the team’s continued engagement with the client after the study was excellent.
NAO Awards
This is a two line headline in light 40ptObituaries
Nicola CoyMention Nicola’s name and the first things that will no doubt spring to mind is her amazing smile and her warmth.
During her time at the NAO Nicola worked on a broad range of areas includ-ing Education, Transport and Home Affairs. A study on Southampton Institute of Higher Education in 1998 investigated allegations that Funding Council grants were being used to subsidise the Institute’s overseas courses. There were concerns that not only were the college premises in Athens “poorly equipped and unsuitable, being situated in a ‘red light district” but also “that income from Athens had been brought into the UK in brown envelopes”. A member of the study team would like to point out a visit to the Athens campus was not part of the study methodology!
While I worked for Nicola our main client was Network Rail, where extracting information could be quite a challenge but, very calm and collected, she was not afraid to allow herself periods of quiet reflection during a meeting to get to the bottom of the matter – nervous of silence in meetings myself I learnt a valuable les-son from her.
Nicola was already something of a rail expert by then and knew rather more than your keenest train spotter. The Transport team of the time will recall her stalwart efforts to map the ‘delivery chain’ for the introduction of a new train – even the rail industry couldn’t map the process itself and DTP may well remember this Figure fondly!
Nicola’s strong belief in the work of the NAO and forward thinking can be found in an issue of Green from July 2006.
On what attracted you to the NAO: “The fact that the NAO is a unique organi-sation… No one else does what we do, and what we do isn’t just for shareholders, it’s for the whole country”.
On what you would like the NAO to be like in 5 years time: “I’ve worked on a couple of VFM projects recently where we’ve drawn on financial auditors and it’s
worked really well. It should be possible for that sort of joint working to become the norm rather than the exception”.
Nicola worked for the NAO for some 20 years before leaving in 2008 to pursue her many interests outside the Office. Her first major project was a makeover of the house she and her husband Gary shared in Purley. Given her talent for list making and infinite patience I imagine she was a worthy opponent to any builder!
A keen traveller Nicola enjoyed hear-ing about and discussing people’s holiday plans, inspiring an adventurous spirit in others. Last year Nicola’s and Gary’s trav-els included Kenya at the time everyone else was leaving in a hurry because of the troubles there at the time. (Not to be put off she told me that they had a fabulous time and were thoroughly spoilt as they were amongst some of the few tourists in the country). And she clearly did have an interest in train spotting after all as was ‘spotted’ by a colleague in Yoho National Park in the Rockies one evening last sum-mer marvelling at the long goods trains passing through the Spiral Tunnels.
Nicola will be, and is already, greatly missed. By Flo Ashley
Simon LaceyAlong with others in the Office who knew Simon, I was shocked and saddened by his death in September. It is always tragic to lose a colleague but seems particularly poignant that Simon was just a couple of weeks from early retirement. After a long career with the NAO, I know Simon wrestled with the decision to retire. But, after the careful calculation and methodi-cal thought that Simon put into any con-sideration, he decided it was too good an opportunity to pursue his outside interests and was busily planning which historically-important architecture he was going to visit first.
Simon joined the Office in August 1980. Most recently he worked with us on Defence VFM, but his career spanned many other areas and roles. Whatever sub-ject Simon turned his attention to, he ab-sorbed huge amounts of material quickly. He was a stalwart of the Regulation area for many years; one of the key architects of the NAO’s work on regulatory impact assessments, and somewhat of an expert on pensions regulation. His capacity for re-searching and recalling detailed informa-tion, and making connections between topics, became apparent to us early on Defence as he contributed to our study on treating military personnel injured on military operations and researched serv-ices to Armed Forces veterans.
Simon spoke often about his extended family at work, and seemed to take partic-ular pride in his younger relations. In 2007, when Ed brought his baby son Oliver to the Office, Simon took a turn in cuddling him. He looked down with admiration, and said, somewhat wistfully, “It’s been a while since I held my nephew like this”. “How old is your nephew now?” he was asked. “Sixteen”, Simon said. I wasn’t there but I can easily picture the careful pause be-fore he delivered his reply and, of course, the smile on his face. Our thoughts are with Simon’s family at such a difficult time By Mark Andrews
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RecentVFM reports
Department for International Development: Aid to MalawiHC 964, 30 October 2009
We reported that the Department for International Development’s programme in Malawi has contributed to poverty reduction, improved health outcomes, larger harvests and more effective governance in the country. It is difficult, however, to gauge how much of this progress can be attributed directly to DFID’s aid. Progress has been uneven across the country, some has been slower than planned and there are opportunities to obtain better value for money.
Government Cash ManagementHC 546, 16 October 2009
Central government could improve its day to day cash management and reduce the amount of interest it pays on debt if its departments and their sponsored bodies held less money in commercial bank accounts. Our report recommended that these organisations instead use the Exchequer as their main banking provider.The NAO pointed out that keeping as much money as possible in the Exchequer is one of the most important elements of good cash management in government.But central government departments and their sponsored bodies hold more money in commercial bank accounts than is necessary. The NAO estimated that some £28 million might have been saved in a year if the £4 billion had been held in the Exchequer.
Services for people with rheumatoid arthritisHC 823, 15 July 2009
Rheumatoid arthritis costs the NHS an estimated £560 million annually. Approximately 580,000 adults in England currently have the disease with a further 26,000 new cases diagnosed each year. This report recommended better coordination of services which would lead to earlier identification of new cases, productivity gains for the economy, and improved outcomes for patients. Delay in treatment is detrimental to patients’ health, their quality of life and, with three quarters of people of working age when diagnosed, the economy. The estimated cost to the economy of sick leave and work-related disability for people with rheumatoid arthritis is £1.8 billion a year.
Department for Transport: The failure of MetronetHC 512, 5 June 2009
This report studied the circumstances surrounding Metronet’s entry into administration and also subsequent developments. Metronet was awarded two of the three Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts to renew and maintain the London Underground tube network in April 2003 and entered administration on 18 July 2007. The Department for Transport is providing Transport for London with financial support to allow operations to be maintained.The NAO published three previous reports on the London Underground PPPs: one in December 2000 and two in June 2004. This follow up study examined the causes of the failure of Metronet and identified lessons for the future.
Reducing healthcare associated infections in hospitals in EnglandHC 560, 12 June 2009
Tackling healthcare associated infections in hospitals is a key priority for the NHS. In 2006-07 there were over 6,000 cases of MRSA and 55,000 cases of Clostridium difficile.This is the third NAO report on the subject. The Management and Control of Hospital Acquired Infection in Acute NHS Trusts in England (February 2000) had a significant impact in raising the profile of this important issue and highlighted the need to improve prevention, management and control. Improving patient care by reducing the risk of hospital acquired infection (July 2004) reviewed progress against NAO and Committee of Public Account’s recommendations and noted that improvements were at best patchy and that serious challenges remained.
The nationalisation of Northern RockHC 298, 20 March 2009
In the summer of 2007, the tripartite authorities (the Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority) decided that emergency support would be necessary to keep Northern Rock in business and avert a loss of confidence in the banking system. The report stated that the nationalisation of Northern Rock offered the best prospect of protecting the taxpayers’ interests and was based on a sufficiently robust analysis of the options available. However, the Treasury was stretched to deal with a crisis of this nature and there were lessons to be learned. We recommended the Treasury could have conducted a more systematic assessment of the risks it was taking on and more thoroughly tested the bank’s initial business plan in public ownership.
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What have you been doing since leaving the NAO? Where to start? Spending more time with the grandchildren which is always a pleasure; during April to July I was a member of the judging panel for this year’s National Training Awards –
it has made me realise just how tough it is to win, so I am doubly proud that we won last year; I’ve helped out with some school trips at the school where I am governor – that was a challenge, managing a group of noisy 9 year olds in the confines of the British Museum! I stood as a candidate in the local county elections – unsuccessfully – and I am secretly relieved at that! Also I’ve been on holiday to Turkey and Dorset and we’re just in the middle of planning a round the world trip leaving early next year. Plus generally chilling out (when I find the time).
What do you not miss? Writing turgid papers.
What do you miss most about the NAO? The breakfast muffins from the coffee shop – ooh, they were just lovely. Oh and the people of course.
What is your fondest memory during your time at the NAO? Other than winning the training award, (natch), I fondly remember me and a couple of others from the training team plus some unsuspecting colleagues skipping and dancing around a room whilst singing out loud rather tunelessly – all as participants on a pilot for a Making an Impact course – ah, happy days!
What one thing would you have changed about the NAO? The logo – how boring is that?
What is your prediction for the future of the NAO?I can foresee us eventually being asked to oversee the Eurovision Song Contest as impartial observers. We have all the necessary skills in oversight and observation plus a great ability to sing along loudly – witness the Pop Quiz.
rosie norgrove retired ealier this year
What have you been doing since leaving the NAO? Decorating, walking, holidaying in California in September.
What do you miss most about the NAO? (a) The people (b) expecting the unexpected (c) a regular diet of bacon muffins and Krispy Kreme donuts.
What do you not miss? Getting up at 5.50am. Also I will not miss the commuting and leaving home and arriving back again in the dark in the winter.
What is your prediction for the future of the NAO?I think Amyas has lots of good ideas for moving the office forward. But what will a new government bring? Further fears of merger with the Audit Commission? NAO Headquarters in Newcastle? Selling off C Block? Compulsory home working? Google Ads on Merlin? A Krispy Kreme shop in the foyer?
What is your fondest memory during your time at the NAO? Lots of good memories. The most recent mixed emotion was the relief at the decant going well, which only lasted for an hour because as I arrived home on the Saturday evening of the third decant weekend with all having gone very well I got a phone call from the HMRC search team saying they wanted to search the whole of BPR at 9am on the Sunday morning. It went downhill from then on.
What one thing would you have changed about the NAO? I think it is a shame that the “whole office” social scene has all but disappeared (the pop quiz is the only thing left) in the pursuit of greater output. The office needs to play hard too.
steve doughty retired ealier this year
Q&A
Printed by Full Spectrum Print Media (80% recycled Greencoat paper).© National Audit Office 2009
