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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Health regulator tells NHS trusts to 'look again' at finances | Health regulator tells NHS trusts to 'look again' at finances |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hospitals and health trusts in England have been told by regulators to look again at their financial plans as current ones are unaffordable. | Hospitals and health trusts in England have been told by regulators to look again at their financial plans as current ones are unaffordable. |
| Monitor has written to the 46 foundation trusts with the biggest deficits "challenging" their plans. | Monitor has written to the 46 foundation trusts with the biggest deficits "challenging" their plans. |
| It urged money-saving measures such as filling only essential staff vacancies. | It urged money-saving measures such as filling only essential staff vacancies. |
| The Department of Health supported the move, but Labour argued it suggested there was a financial crisis in the NHS that was "spiralling out of control". | The Department of Health supported the move, but Labour argued it suggested there was a financial crisis in the NHS that was "spiralling out of control". |
| David Bennett, chief executive of Monitor, said the NHS was facing an almost unprecedented financial challenge this year. | David Bennett, chief executive of Monitor, said the NHS was facing an almost unprecedented financial challenge this year. |
| "We are already reviewing and challenging the plans of the 46 foundation trusts with the biggest deficits," he wrote in a letter to trusts. | "We are already reviewing and challenging the plans of the 46 foundation trusts with the biggest deficits," he wrote in a letter to trusts. |
| Funding gap | Funding gap |
| "However, it is clear that this process will not close the funding gap and so we need all providers - even those planning for a surplus this year - to look again at their plans to see what more can be done." | "However, it is clear that this process will not close the funding gap and so we need all providers - even those planning for a surplus this year - to look again at their plans to see what more can be done." |
| He urged trusts to leave non-essential vacancies unfilled, and to follow guidelines on safe staffing in a way which was "proportionate and appropriate". | He urged trusts to leave non-essential vacancies unfilled, and to follow guidelines on safe staffing in a way which was "proportionate and appropriate". |
| Rosters should be rigorously managed to deploy staff efficiently across all required shifts, including evenings and weekends, he said. | Rosters should be rigorously managed to deploy staff efficiently across all required shifts, including evenings and weekends, he said. |
| Meanwhile, NHS England will order local commissioners to ease pressure on hospitals by suspending all fines and penalties relating to waiting times. | Meanwhile, NHS England will order local commissioners to ease pressure on hospitals by suspending all fines and penalties relating to waiting times. |
| In May, NHS trusts in England reported a total deficit of £822m in 2014-15, compared with £115m the previous year. | In May, NHS trusts in England reported a total deficit of £822m in 2014-15, compared with £115m the previous year. |
| A big rise in spending on agency nurses contributed to the deficits. | A big rise in spending on agency nurses contributed to the deficits. |
| At the time, Monitor said figures for this financial year were likely to be even worse. | At the time, Monitor said figures for this financial year were likely to be even worse. |
| Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the warning by Monitor "suggests that the financial crisis in the NHS is threatening to spiral out of control and hit standards of patient care". | Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the warning by Monitor "suggests that the financial crisis in the NHS is threatening to spiral out of control and hit standards of patient care". |
| 'Alarm patients' | 'Alarm patients' |
| He added: "The suggestion that hospitals can ignore safe staffing guidance will alarm patients and the government must decide if it will overrule this advice." | He added: "The suggestion that hospitals can ignore safe staffing guidance will alarm patients and the government must decide if it will overrule this advice." |
| The Department of Health said it was investing £8bn into the NHS in England so that it could implement a five-year plan, and it was vital that "every penny possible" was spent on patient care. | The Department of Health said it was investing £8bn into the NHS in England so that it could implement a five-year plan, and it was vital that "every penny possible" was spent on patient care. |
| "We support this move by NHS regulators, on top of the package of financial controls announced earlier in the year, to ensure the service lives within its means without compromising standards," a spokesman said. | "We support this move by NHS regulators, on top of the package of financial controls announced earlier in the year, to ensure the service lives within its means without compromising standards," a spokesman said. |
| The provider sector has forecast a total deficit of more than £2bn for 2015-16, according to specialist resource Health Service Journal. | The provider sector has forecast a total deficit of more than £2bn for 2015-16, according to specialist resource Health Service Journal. |
| Chris Hopson, NHS Providers' chief executive, said it was a systematic problem with around 80% of NHS trusts were predicting a deficit. |