12.07.18
Brighton trust taken out of financial special measures but expects £55m deficit
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) has been taken out of financial special measures, but remains in special measures for its standards of care.
The trust was put into financial special measures back in October 2016 by NHS Improvement (NHSI). The following month, the trust signed a partnership agreement with Western Sussex Hospitals NHS FT to help turn around its struggling services.
The hospital came under fire over the death of a patient, Joan Blaber, who reportedly drank a cleaning liquid thinking it was orange juice in September last year.
It was after this that the CQC told the trust to take measures to better protect its patients. An inquest into her death is expected to take place later this year.
NHSI praised the trust for reducing its deficit by £13m (19%) since the start of the last financial year, but it is still expecting to have a deficit of £55m for 2018-19. Nevertheless, it has identified £30m of efficiencies for 2018-19.
The provider also recently put out feelers for a new chair to “play a key leadership role” in improving its ‘patient first’ approach to care.
Marianne Griffiths, BSUH chief executive, said: “We now have control over our finances and we have achieved this without taking our eye off the goal of delivering excellent patient care.
“High-quality patient care and strong financial management go hand in hand, and I have no doubt that we will continue to improve on both aspects of life at the trust.”
Top image: coldsnowstorm via iStock
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