Latest investigations
Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust
The trust has been in financial special measures since October 2016 and reported an unexpectedly large deficit for 2016-17. A subsequent review blamed the former chief executive, finance director and chair for failures of governance that led to a £16m black hole in the finances. The key priority for the new leadership team is to be in financial balance and out of special measures by April 2019.The trust wants to consolidate strong accident and emergency performance. A £39m investment in estates from 2019 should further enhance care flow.
Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Trust
The trust narrowly missed a “good” rating in March 2018 with a “requires improvement” rating despite a report which was significantly improved from the 2015 one. This is likely to drive a desire to improve further. The trust successfully moved services between sites in the winter of 2017-18 to cope with a potential winter crisis. Its stroke services across the trust are likely to be centralised on one site, preferably Maidstone as it would involve less capital investment. It will face a big cost improvement challenge to achieve a surplus in 2018-19.
Poole Hospital Foundation Trust
Poole Hospital’s A&E is to be downgraded to a 24/7 urgent care centre and plans to merge with neighbour trust have been resurrected. There is significant building work ahead as part of a service reconfiguration. A large amount of work on architecture, construction, engineering, and planning is likely to be tendered over 2019-20. To maintain financial and performance stability, the trust may consider short term partnerships to improve A&E performance, which is key to unlocking much needed money. Estates, training, and staffing issues top the trust’s improvement agenda.
Expert briefings
North by North West: Greater Manchester's Achilles' heel
Essential insight into NHS matters in the North West of England, with a particular focus on the devolution project in Greater Manchester.
London Eye: Trusts without borders
Essential insight into England’s biggest health economy, by Ben Clover
The Commissioner: What will the long term NHS plan do for integrated care?
What NHS England isn’t telling you, and more indispensable insight for commissioners. By senior bureau chief Dave West.
Data
This week we have updated the following:
- Population of CCGs in 2017-18
- 62 day cancer target of acute, specialist trusts in Q4 2017-18
