‘A SIGNIFICANT shift’ in managing finances has stalled and possibly reversed the spiralling debt at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT).
The trust, which manages the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, has seen its projected overspend for 2015/16 balloon from £30 million to £65 million but the latest figures produced by interim director of finance Rob Cooper see this now coming in at just under £60 million for the financial year.
However Mr Cooper warned board members that costs would have to be screwed down to meet this target.
“There has been a significant shift in managing finances but we cannot assume this will be delivered until it is, but hopefully we will hit £59.9 million,” he said.
Measures put in place include tackling the cost of using agency staff at the trust’s hospitals, particularly in Accident and Emergency – currently running at £10.2 million.
This is being done through a cap on agency charges, setting up the trust’s own ‘bank’ of nurses willing to do extra shifts, and making greater use of third year nursing undergraduates from the University of Worcester.
Meanwhile agencies which guarantee to fill any shift – and charge accordingly – are being given ‘break glass’ status where approval has to come from a senior manager before they are used.
Mr Cooper added he was looking to save a further £14 million next year and to break even in the next three to four years.
“It’s a hefty target but it is realistic and the aim will be to get everyone on-side to see if we can deliver it.”
