NNUH Statement regarding NHS Improvement announcement

Mark Davies, NNUH Chief Executive said:

“The NNUH Trust board is determined to improve the financial position while ensuring the best possible quality of care for patients is maintained. We recently successfully applied to be part of a voluntary national Financial Improvement Programme run by NHS Improvement, and we are keen to benefit from the expert support that this  provides. As a result of this programme we have appointed PwC and an experienced turnaround director, to help drive rapid financial improvement.   PwC reported to the board in May that our financial plans are “ambitious” and “challenging” and our financial projections ‘sensible’ and concluded: ‘…it is not possible for the Trust to achieve the control total.’

“It is clear that much of the challenging financial position is about demand, not inefficiency. From externally verified analysis, NNUH is the most efficient teaching hospital in the country. This came out of the national NHS productivity and efficiency review earlier this year by Lord Carter of Coles.

“The demand we are faced with is rising relentlessly and we are treating more patients who require more complex care from a large geographical area.  Our staff are doing an amazing job but they are under significant daily pressure which is not sustainable. This is why our plan to expand our services  is crucial in both providing the best possible care to patients and bringing our finances back into balance.

“The vast majority  of acute hospitals are in deficit, showing that many Trusts are facing the same issue. We remain committed to demonstrating that we are using taxpayers’ money as efficiently as possible.”