HEALTH regulator Monitor has announced this morning, Friday, an investigation into the finances of Warrington Hospital has been launched. 

The  investigation will seek to understand why the trust’s finances have deteriorated and whether it has a credible plan to improve them.

It will also examine how the trust, which runs health care services in Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes and the surrounding areas, is working with other local NHS bodies to address its problems.

Paul Chandler, regional director at Monitor, said: “Patients in Cheshire rely on their local hospitals and we want to make sure that Warrington and Halton Hospitals can continue to provide quality care while effectively managing its finances.

“We want to find out why the trust’s finances have deteriorated and what can be done to fix them.”

A spokesman added Monitor will announce the outcome of its investigation, and whether any regulatory action is needed, in due course.

Mel Pickup, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Like many hospitals of our size we have faced significant operational pressures this year, which means that our operating expenses have been significantly higher than our planned income in a period where we have experienced intense pressure on our services.

"For example we have treated 2,000 extra emergency in-patients who have needed our care and faced other significant service pressures.

"The chance to look at issues faced by the trust and across the health community with other local organisations will be very useful.”

Monitor released figures last week that showed that 31 of the 38 trusts of comparable size to Warrington and Halton Hospitals are in deficit this financial year.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals are expecting to meet a revised financial plan of a £5.9 million deficit, against an overall budget of £215 million.

Their original plan was to finish the year with a deficit of £1.5 million.

Following the news, Warrington North MP Helen Jones said she was 'extremely concerned' about the hospital's position. 

She added: "The hospital has had to make £11.9m worth of cuts this year when it's taking in more patients and more of those patients are seriously ill. 

"At the same time I understand that Warrington CCG is taking a very aggressive approach to the fines and penalties the hospital has to pay and constantly disputing activity and coding of its activity. 

"In addition to that many patients should be discharged but can't be because facilities are not available to them because of cuts in social care. 

"95 patients this week are ready to be discharged but can't be. 

"It's very important that the whole health economy in Warrington work together to tackle these problems. 

"We have heard rumours about the hospital being merged with Whiston and minister consistently refuse to deny it. 

"The health service in Warrington needs to work together to solve these problems and ensure they maintain local health services in Warrington Hospital."