Specialty Support Funding

– Responsible for approving any new requests for funding/activity,

– Review and approve/reject any significant changes to existing activity/costs.

– Responsible for confirming funding is available via england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net before approving any subsequent requests to run additional events in-year.

– Resolve issues if activities take place without the appropriate approvals or supporting evidence.

– Manage their School’s budget and the Discretionary Budget in line with the guidance below and the principles of NHS England Standing Financial Instructions and NHS England Expenses policy.

– Follow the instructions below.

– In line with any direct requests, submit course forecasts and information to NHSE at the start of the financial year for each budget line/NC code.

– Obtain approval for any new activity.

– Review and advise the Head of School and england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net of any significant changes to existing activity/costs, including requests for additional events.

– Do not run any additional events in-year (to those already approved) without first obtaining approval from the Head of School. If approval has been provided by the Head of School, inform england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net.

– Ensure that Event Leads for their activities follow the instructions below.

– Follow the instructions below.

– Obtain approval for any new activity or significant changes (increases) to estimated costs via the Course Lead (or Head of School direct) as appropriate.

– Do not run any additional events in-year without first obtaining approval from the Course Lead (or Head of School direct) as appropriate.

– Complete and submit a Post-Event Confirmation and Authority to Process Payments form to england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net within 1 week after each event

– Submit all claims and invoices within 1 month of the completion of the training activity (unless there are justifiable reasons why these cannot be presented promptly), including receipts or proof of payment for all costs claimed.

– Ensure all faculty who contributed to an event are made aware of:

(i) how to submit a claim (i.e. give them a link to this webpage)

(ii) how many hours you are expecting(authorising) them to claim for (e.g. if they attend an event for a whole day but lecture for 2 hours of it, then NHSE will expect them to only claim for delivery of 2 hours)

(iii) the course code (normally a number beginning with “NC”) as a reference for submitting their claim.

Free venues must be booked where possible. Where it is not possible to book a free venue:

– Trust and specialist facilities (e.g. simulation suites) can be funded.

– The most cost-effective venue must be sourced/booked.

– Please contact us (england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net) regarding options before booking any commercial venues (e.g. hotels). Please consider using Explorer House for large events and events that cannot be accommodated in Trusts:  Explorer House has great facilities, is set up to run hybrid events, has free parking and public transport links, and it is possible to book and secure rooms and catering under bespoke NHSE contract arrangements, whereas we cannot do this with other commercial venues (e.g. hotels). 

For venue payments, the preferred method is direct invoice to the Wessex PDU (see below).

Equipment must be borrowed where possible. Where it is not possible to borrow equipment:

– Limited equipment may be funded

– england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net must be informed of any intended purchases before any commitment is made.

– The most cost-effective supplier must be sourced/booked

Preferred payment method – direct invoice to the Wessex PDU (see below)

The process for paying Actors/Patients/Volunteers has changed. Please do not issue payments to new or existing actors, patients or other volunteers and claim on their behalf. Instead, please refer to the New Suppliers/Faculty/Speakers Application Process section below – all Actors/Patients/Volunteers will need to be paid directedly by NHSE or via their employer, and only if NHSE approval is received for payment for their services.

New Suppliers: With effect from 2 May 2025, please do not commit to any services from a new supplier until the New Suppliers/Faculty/Speakers Application Process been completed in full and you have received approval from NHSE, otherwise, there is no guarantee of payment from NHSE, and associated costs will be the responsibility of the individual who booked the new supplier. Please see the New Suppliers/Faculty/Speakers Application Process section below for more details.

General guidance

It is appreciated that time and effort go into organising and delivering training events, therefore event organisers/lecturers/examiners can claim for their time, within the following guidelines:

– Time to prepare and/or deliver specialty support activity can be funded providing the course organiser/lecturer/examiner has carried out the work in their own time.

– Time cannot be funded if course organiser/lecturer/examiner has supported the activity during trust/SPA/study leave time, or the time can be offset against any of these.

– The Wessex PDU’s standard clinical lecture rate is £67.74 per hour (minimum of 1 hour paid) – in line with page 26 of the August 2024 NHS Employers Pay and Conditions Circular (£101.61 per 1.5 hours). There will be no back-payments for retrospective changes to these rates.

– For any other non-standard clinical lecture rates, such as administrative support, or claims for more than £67.74 per hour, please liaise with the Wessex PDU (england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net) regarding arrangements and to make sure you have specific approval in advance.

Payment methods:

For new suppliers: Please see the New Suppliers/Faculty/Speakers Application Process section below before committing to a supplier.

For existing suppliers: Standard lecture claims – fvia an electronic copy of the electronic Wessex Specialty Support Expenses Claim Form (see the Submitting claims and evidence and Payment methods sections below).

– Non-standard lecture claims – direct invoice to the Wessex PDU (see the Submitting claims and evidence and Payment methods sections below).

Faculty (including Consultants, Resident Doctors, guest speakers, actors and patients):

– Travel and car parking expenses can be funded (parking receipts are required)
– If travelling by car, mileage is claimable at 45p per mile

Payment method – via an electronic Wessex Specialty Support Expenses Claim Form (see the Submitting claims and evidence and Payment methods sections below).

Delegates (Resident Doctors):

Resident Doctors attending an event as a delegate cannot claim travel and car parking expenses via Specialty Support as they should be claimed back via the employing trusts.

Unfortunately NHSE is unable to fund gifts, including gifts in lieu of payment. 

Where an individual or team’s deserves thanks or special recognition, then it is recommended that you write a letter of appreciation and CC in the relevant contacts, e.g. their line manager, Training Programme Director and/or Head of School as appropriate. If they require remuneration for their preparation or delivery time, please see the Preparation and delivery time section (above).

Unfortunately NHSE is unable to fund any prizes or awards of any description. 

Where an individual or team’s contribution deserves special recognition, then it is recommended that you write a letter of appreciation and CC in the relevant contacts, e.g. their line manager, Training Programme Director and/or Head of School as appropriate.

With effect from 10 April 2025, we have been instructed to follow NHS England regional policy, and our default across the South East is not to fund refreshments or catering for any events, meetings, courses, conferences, etc that are run by NHSE or on behalf of NHSE for NHS staff.
 
We appreciate this change may impact and create additional challenges for you and other stakeholders, but you will also be aware of the financial challenges being faced across the whole of the NHS; and this approach to catering and refreshments will bring us into line with the rest of NHSE, and ensure that we protect available resource to best support delivery of necessary activity.

With effect from 10 April 2025, we have been instructed to follow NHS England regional policy, and our default across the South East is not to fund refreshments or catering for any events, meetings, courses, conferences, etc that are run by NHSE or on behalf of NHSE for NHS staff.
 
We appreciate this change may impact and create additional challenges for you and other stakeholders, but you will also be aware of the financial challenges being faced across the whole of the NHS; and this approach to catering and refreshments will bring us into line with the rest of NHSE, and ensure that we protect available resource to best support delivery of necessary activity.

We are unable to fund dinners, including working dinners for faculty.

Due to financial pressures within NHSE and the wider NHS, unfortunately, with effect from 2 May 2025 we are not accepting requests for new funding activities until further notice.

Due to financial pressures within NHSE and the wider NHS, unfortunately, with effect from 2 May 2025 any funding approvals for recurring activities have expired and all planned/requested activity for between 1 August 2025 – 31 March 2026 will be subject to a review by the respective Head of School.

a. Wessex Delegates. If you are receiving funding from the Wessex Specialty Support budget to run the activity then you should not be charging Wessex delegates an attendance fee.

b. Non-Wessex Delegates. If you plan to charge an attendance fee for non-Wessex doctors then you should let us know in advance. As a minimum, you will need to record such delegates’ names, specialty, employing Trust and Region so that we can arrange a transfer of the payment.

At present (but the process may potentially change during 2025/26, so please check before submitting), please complete a copy of the Wessex Specialty Support Expenses Claim Form and email it to england.wxpduspecialtysupport.se@nhs.net.

Please note – it can take up to 6 weeks for payment to be received.

Suppliers/trusts must include the following information on invoices to the Wessex PDU; please just forward (copy & paste) the following bullets and invoice address to any supplier who requires our invoice details:-

– Training activity title (e.g. O&G Regional Teaching)
– Event date
– Venue
– Reference: XXBLIU
– Invoice Address:

NHS ENGLAND
X24 PAYABLES K005
PO BOX 312
LEEDS                                      
LS11 1HP  

In some cases, it may be necessary for PDU to raise a Purchase Order (PO) – if you require a PO, please contact us.Please advise suppliers that it can take up to 6 weeks for payment to be received.

In exceptional circumstances trusts can purchase items and/or pay suppliers’ invoices on behalf of the Wessex PDU, and raise an invoice to the Wessex PDU to seek reimbursement, using the information in the “Direct Invoice” section above.