24.09.13
‘Patients waiting too long’ as 38% of FTs miss A&E target
Twice as many foundation trusts have been missing their four hour A&E targets compared to the year before, the latest quarterly report from Monitor shows.
In the three months to June 2013, 48 FTs were in deficit, including 19 which had never reported a deficit before. This has risen from 36 in the same period in 2012/13.
The overall deficit is now £74m and FTs were also found to be struggling to deliver efficiency savings, with 19% less than originally planned so far this year.
Jason Dorsett, director of finance, reporting and risk at Monitor, said: “Our analysis of returns from foundation trusts shows that patients are still waiting too long at A&Es in a number of foundation trusts. Increased demand means more than ever that trusts need better and earlier planning.
“The increased demand has also prevented trusts from delivering their planned financial savings. We expect to see trusts planning now for how the increased demand will impact on their finances, so that they are not storing up trouble for the future.”
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