24.07.14
Auditors highlight financial concerns at 19 NHS trusts
Auditors have referred 19 NHS trusts to the health secretary in the last year for failing to meet their statutory break-even duty, compared with five in 2012-13.
The Audit Commission reviewed the financial health of 101 NHS trusts running hospital, ambulance and community services (it does not review foundation trusts).
In the report - Auditing the Accounts 2013/14 NHS bodies – auditors said they were increasingly reporting the failure of NHS trusts to achieve their cost improvement targets or to fully identify schemes to achieve future savings.
Marcine Waterman, controller of audit, said: “This level of reporting is worrying and reflects the increasing risks to the financial sustainability of individual NHS trusts, as they continue to face sizeable financial pressures due to a rising demand for services and the necessary focus on quality of care, whilst balancing the need for continued cost savings.”
Most NHS bodies have proper arrangements for securing value for money. But auditors at 34 trusts (34%) issued a non-standard value for money conclusion relating to concerns about financial resilience. Last year, this figure was 26%.
A Department of Health spokesman said the government recognised there were challenges, which was why the budget had been protected this parliament.
He added: “It is essential that trust chief executives have a tight financial grip and ensure they live within their means.”
The 19 NHS trusts referred to the health state for failing to meet their statutory break-even duty are:
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust
- Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
- Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust
- Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
- Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust
- North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
- Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
- United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust
- Weston Area Health NHS Trust
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
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