Press release
NHS Bury announces the next stage of its plans to achieve financial recovery
The Board of NHS Bury will be asked to consider the next phase of its financial recovery plans on 21st March, where it will also be reported that the initial phase of the plan has been successfully achieved.
When the initial plans were approved in September 2010, NHS Bury was spending £1.3m per month more than it was receiving in income. Now, just six months later and as a result of the actions taken, this monthly “run rate” deficit has reduced to £0.6m.
An item which generated particular interest in September related to the restriction of IVF services. The Board will consider a number of options in relation to IVF on Monday, including options to retain or remove the current restriction in full or in part from April.
Similarly, treatment thresholds for cataracts and hip and knee replacements are being reviewed and may be eased, although some restrictions will stay in place.
As we move into 2011/12, a programme of measures is required to:
- Maintain and achieve the necessary further improvements to the run rate, building on the actions taken since September 2010
- Address new cost pressures identified for 2011/12, eg investment in re-ablement services, costs related to improving access to primary care
- Generate a surplus to be used for future investment by GP Commissioners
The following proposals have therefore been developed for the Board’s consideration on Monday 21st March:
- Deliver savings in secondary care, (ie hospital services), of £13m in 2011/12
- Deliver savings in community services of around £1m in 2011/12
- Deliver savings on the continuing healthcare budget of £1.5m (see note 1 below for definition of continuing healthcare)
- Achieving efficiencies in the prescribing budget of £1.5m
- Reducing the running costs of the PCT by £2m
- Achieving further internal savings of around £6.5m
Paul Horrocks, Chair of NHS Bury commented: “The announcement that the initial phase of our financial recovery plan has been successful represents an extremely important milestone for NHS Bury.”
“This is allowing the Board to review some of the restrictions it made last September, for example to review options with regard to IVF treatment and to consider easing restrictions in other areas.”
“The plans which will be considered by the Board have been designed to deliver a financially balanced position in Bury and to begin to develop a surplus for future investment. This will provide our local GPs with a firm foundation as they prepare to take over the lead responsibility for the commissioning of health services.”
“Local GP leaders have been involved in the development of these proposals, including those leading the development of the new GP Commissioning Consortium for Bury.”
Dr Kiran Patel, GP Commissioning Development lead stated: “The last six months have been difficult for the patients of Bury and the medical community. It is therefore great news that we are now in a position to be able to ease some of the restrictions. We still remain in a difficult position, however the last six months have shown that working together we can and should be able to reduce the impact of the financial pressure.”
ENDS
Date: 18 March 2011
FOR PRESS & MEDIA ENQUIRIES: contact Caroline Dearden, Corporate Communications Manager on 0161 762 3106 or email communications@bury.nhs.uk
Notes to editor:
The term NHS continuing care means fully funded care for people who do not require care in an NHS acute hospital, but who nevertheless require a high degree of ongoing health care.
The NHS Bury Board will meet in public on Monday 21st March at 1 pm at the Fusilier Museum, Bury. Members of the press and public are welcome to attend.