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| NHS finances 'worsening' as deficit nears £500m | NHS finances 'worsening' as deficit nears £500m |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The NHS in England has run up a deficit of nearly £500m in the first few months of the financial year, official figures show. | The NHS in England has run up a deficit of nearly £500m in the first few months of the financial year, official figures show. |
| Regulators said the sums were greater than had been expected - and warned hospitals in particular they must "get a grip" on the situation. | Regulators said the sums were greater than had been expected - and warned hospitals in particular they must "get a grip" on the situation. |
| It comes as the NHS struggles to hit key waiting time targets for cancer, A&E units and routine operations. | |
| Increasing demand for services was highlighted as one of the key causes. | Increasing demand for services was highlighted as one of the key causes. |
| The figures covered all types of trusts, including hospitals, mental health and ambulance services. | The figures covered all types of trusts, including hospitals, mental health and ambulance services. |
| They have been published in board papers released by Monitor and the Trust Development Agency, which oversee foundation trusts and non-foundation trusts respectively. | They have been published in board papers released by Monitor and the Trust Development Agency, which oversee foundation trusts and non-foundation trusts respectively. |
| Both sectors posted deficits - the first time foundation trusts have done so. | Both sectors posted deficits - the first time foundation trusts have done so. |
| The figures from Monitor showed a deficit of £167m had been run up in the first quarter of 2014-15 - above the £80m forecast. A total of 86 out of 147 trusts were in the red. This time last year they posted a £27m surplus. | |
| 'Tight financial grip' | 'Tight financial grip' |
| The data for the non-foundation trusts, which covers the first four months, showed there had been a £300m deficit, compared with a £224m forecast. Thirty-three out of 65 were in deficit. | The data for the non-foundation trusts, which covers the first four months, showed there had been a £300m deficit, compared with a £224m forecast. Thirty-three out of 65 were in deficit. |
| The biggest problems were seen in hospital trusts - and this was also illustrated by the difficulties they were experiencing in meeting their waiting time targets. | The biggest problems were seen in hospital trusts - and this was also illustrated by the difficulties they were experiencing in meeting their waiting time targets. |
| The two-month target for cancer patients to get their first treatment after an urgent referral was missed in the first quarter - the second time in a row that this has happened. Although other cancer targets, including the two-week wait to see a specialist after an urgent referral, have been met. | The two-month target for cancer patients to get their first treatment after an urgent referral was missed in the first quarter - the second time in a row that this has happened. Although other cancer targets, including the two-week wait to see a specialist after an urgent referral, have been met. |
| The four-hour A&E waiting time target was met in the first quarter, but performance did deteriorate during several weeks despite the period covering spring and summer which are traditionally easier times for hospitals. | |
| But the 18-week target for routine surgery was missed in June and July - although ministers have signalled to the NHS that standards can slip until the end of the year while they deal with the backlog of long waits. | But the 18-week target for routine surgery was missed in June and July - although ministers have signalled to the NHS that standards can slip until the end of the year while they deal with the backlog of long waits. |
| Monitor chief executive Dr David Bennett said: "Trusts are striving to overcome the challenges they face while still meeting patients' expectations for quality care." | Monitor chief executive Dr David Bennett said: "Trusts are striving to overcome the challenges they face while still meeting patients' expectations for quality care." |
| But he said more progress could be made, particularly by "getting a grip" on staffing costs - the use of agency staff is high in many places - as well as identifying other savings. | But he said more progress could be made, particularly by "getting a grip" on staffing costs - the use of agency staff is high in many places - as well as identifying other savings. |
| A Department of Health spokesman pointed out the NHS budget, which stands at over £100bn for the year, had been protected this Parliament. | A Department of Health spokesman pointed out the NHS budget, which stands at over £100bn for the year, had been protected this Parliament. |
| He added: "We understand some trusts are facing challenges because of increasing demand but they must have a tight financial grip and ensure they live within their means. | He added: "We understand some trusts are facing challenges because of increasing demand but they must have a tight financial grip and ensure they live within their means. |
| "Delivering high-quality services and balancing the books must go hand in hand and we expect trusts to deliver this during the course of the financial year." | "Delivering high-quality services and balancing the books must go hand in hand and we expect trusts to deliver this during the course of the financial year." |
| Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents trusts, said: "We have been warning for some time that NHS trusts will fall further into deficit as they try to balance rising demand for care against flat funding." | Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents trusts, said: "We have been warning for some time that NHS trusts will fall further into deficit as they try to balance rising demand for care against flat funding." |
| He added that trusts were "working tirelessly" to keep standards up. |