Town's NHS debt hits £4m (From Warrington Guardian)

Town's NHS debt hits £4m

DEBTS to the tune of almost £4 million have been accumulated by Warrington's three NHS organisations.

An investigation into health trust finances revealed that Warrington Primary Care Trust, which looks after healthcare outside of hospital like GPs and dentists, has the highest debt of £2 million.

The 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust, which looks after mental health care services at Hollins Park, has a deficit of £1,185,000.

And North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which looks after Warrington Hospital, has debts of a comparatively low £700,000.

The Five Boroughs Partnership says it has a robust recovery plan in place. A spokesman said: "We are working closely with our commissioners to consistently drive up the efficiency and effectiveness of the services we deliver. One exaple of this is a highly successful recruitment drive of medical staff which substantially reduced our agency and locum costs."

Warrington PCT says the debt is a one-off and non recurrent and that a three-month recruitment freeze on staff not essential to patient care has now been lifted.

In a joint statement, a spokesman for Warrington Primary Care Trust, North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust and 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust said: "The three trusts within Warrington have a deficit which is a very small percentage of the overall spend on health within the Warrington area and, critically, is within the limits agreed with the Department of Health.

"Warrington Primary Care Trust is drafting a new commissioning stratgey which outlines where future healthcare resources in the town should be focused to ensure safe, sustainable services across the town.

"This went to the board yesterday, Wednesday.

"It recommends that a focus on promotion of healthier lifestyles will have an enormous impact on preventing ill health, and thus on the numbers of people who are unwell.

"Evidence for this was outlined in the Wanless report."

sharker@guardiangrp.co.uk