21.10.15
Two leaders sent to intervene in struggling trust in breach of its licence
Following an investigation into the finances and operability of Heart of England NHS FT, Monitor has identified that the trust is in breach of its licence to provide services and urgently requires new leaders to address this.
The trust – which provides services for more than one million people in Birmingham, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and South Staffordshire – was subject to regulatory action in the past due to issues with its performance and management.
On 1 October, the regulator launched an investigation into its finances after it ran up a deficit of almost £30m in five months.
After the investigation concluded that the provider was in breach of its license, Monitor pointed to a significant need to bring in two top bosses to help steer its finances.
Dr David Bennett, the regulator’s chief executive, said: “The financial position of Heart of England NHS FT must be fixed. The trust must be in a position where it can provide the services that patients need for years to come.
“We hope that bringing in two experience NHS leaders will help the trust transform itself into one that consistently gives the quality of care patients expect and lives within its budget.”
Given that the trust’s chair, Les Lawrence, is set to step down in November, the regulator has proposed to appoint Jacqui Smith to the role on an interim basis, with Dame Julie Moore joining her as interim chief executive. They both currently perform these roles at the neighbouring University Hospitals Birmingham NHS FT (UHB).
Smith would retain her position at UHB alongside working at Heart of England, but Moore would spend most of her time at the failing trust.
The regulator’s proposal is currently with the trust’s board and will be presented to Monitor’s provider regulation executive for final approval later this week.
(Top image: Heartlands Hospital, c. David Jones/PA Wire)