This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-41558264
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'High risk' of NHS Tayside failing to balance budget | 'High risk' of NHS Tayside failing to balance budget |
(about 1 hour later) | |
NHS Tayside faces a "high risk" of failing to balance its budget in the current financial year, Scotland's spending watchdog has reported. | NHS Tayside faces a "high risk" of failing to balance its budget in the current financial year, Scotland's spending watchdog has reported. |
Auditor General Caroline Gardner said the board had continued to experience "significant financial issues". | Auditor General Caroline Gardner said the board had continued to experience "significant financial issues". |
NHS Tayside delivered £45.5m in efficiency savings in 2016/17, nearly double the savings of the previous year. | NHS Tayside delivered £45.5m in efficiency savings in 2016/17, nearly double the savings of the previous year. |
However, the auditor general said that was still £1.3m below target. | However, the auditor general said that was still £1.3m below target. |
The main overspends last year were on workforce, prescribing costs, and clinical supplies. | The main overspends last year were on workforce, prescribing costs, and clinical supplies. |
NHS Tayside chief executive Lesley McLay said the board was "actively addressing" its issues. | |
Independent advisors were appointed in March to help NHS Tayside meet its financial challenges. | Independent advisors were appointed in March to help NHS Tayside meet its financial challenges. |
They have reported that "the pace and scale of change needs to increase" if the board's transformation plan is to succeed. | They have reported that "the pace and scale of change needs to increase" if the board's transformation plan is to succeed. |
Ms McLay told MSPs last December there was "no intention whatsoever" of cutting jobs. | |
The health board received £13.2m in Scottish government loan funding, known as brokerage, in 2016/17. | The health board received £13.2m in Scottish government loan funding, known as brokerage, in 2016/17. |
The auditor general's report said: "This brings the total brokerage received by the board over the last five years to £37.5m. | The auditor general's report said: "This brings the total brokerage received by the board over the last five years to £37.5m. |
"Of this, £33.2m is still to be repaid but the Scottish government has suspended repayments and it's not yet been confirmed when they will resume." | "Of this, £33.2m is still to be repaid but the Scottish government has suspended repayments and it's not yet been confirmed when they will resume." |
A funding gap of £49.8m has been predicted for the current financial year. | A funding gap of £49.8m has been predicted for the current financial year. |
The board plans to deliver savings of £45.8m, with the balance being provided by a further £4m in brokerage. | The board plans to deliver savings of £45.8m, with the balance being provided by a further £4m in brokerage. |
'Significant savings needed' | |
The report said: "The board recognises that its cost base remains too high and further significant savings are needed in future. | The report said: "The board recognises that its cost base remains too high and further significant savings are needed in future. |
"It has identified that to be financially sustainable in the long term, it must save £205.8m over the next five years. | "It has identified that to be financially sustainable in the long term, it must save £205.8m over the next five years. |
"This includes the suspended brokerage repayments. | "This includes the suspended brokerage repayments. |
"There is a risk that more financial support will be needed, and the 2017/18 savings also include £5m which have yet to be identified or are high risk." | "There is a risk that more financial support will be needed, and the 2017/18 savings also include £5m which have yet to be identified or are high risk." |
Ms Gardner said: "NHS Tayside continues to face an extremely challenging position which will make it difficult to achieve financial balance in the future. | Ms Gardner said: "NHS Tayside continues to face an extremely challenging position which will make it difficult to achieve financial balance in the future. |
"Some of the changes required to address these challenges will take time to fully implement. | "Some of the changes required to address these challenges will take time to fully implement. |
"It's important that the board put in place a realistic action plan, accompanied by the capacity and resources required to deliver it." | "It's important that the board put in place a realistic action plan, accompanied by the capacity and resources required to deliver it." |
Ms McLay said: "Today's report indicates areas where we have already identified significant pressures on spending. | |
"We know we are spending more than our allocated share of the NHS funding in Scotland. | |
"We have the largest property footprint in the country, we use more agency nursing staff and we spend more on prescribing medicines. | |
"We are actively addressing all of these issues." | |
She added: "We have already taken decisive action in 2017/18, including stopping the use of non-contract nursing agency staff in some areas, undertaking a wide-ranging programme of work to address prescribing costs, and identifying additional actions to close our financial gap." |
Previous version
1
Next version