26.09.12
‘Difficult decisions’ for Yorkshire trust
NHS North Yorkshire and York is implementing emergency cuts to services to try to save £10m as it struggles with a growing deficit.
A range of services are under review, including proposed changes to non-emergency operations. Outpatient follow-up appointments would be affected, there would be changes to opening hours in the region’s minor injuries units and some beds would be closed in community hospitals. Midwife-led services could also be transferred to a hospital in Middlesbrough.
The cuts package was revealed at a board meeting yesterday, and received an angry reaction, according to the Yorkshire Post. One GP said the cuts would be the PCT’s “suicide note”. The PCT’s chairman, Kevin McAleese said it would “literally run out of cash” before March without urgent action.
The trust’s deficit, originally predicted to be £19m for the year, is approaching £40m. The financial situation has deteriorated further due to higher than anticipated demand for hospital services.
The plans are to be put out to public consultation, and if approved will be implemented by April 2013.
Chris Long, the chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “In order to ensure we can continue to provide essential services to everyone in North Yorkshire and York, we must make some difficult decisions about the services we provide both this year and into the next.
“It is estimated that these measures will save approximately £10m, and we are working with local health partners to identify further measures required to keep the projected deficit to £19m.”
But Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chair of the British Medical Association's GP committee, warned: “If you cut in one area it puts pressure on another area. Take away any resources from practices and it makes their job doubly hard.”
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