Monitor takes action to fix finances and leadership at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
6 Jun 2014 03:51 PM
As a result of
Monitor’s investigation, the trust will seek help to plug a £7.55
million hole in its finances, so that it can continue to provide quality care
for its patients.
Monitor began
investigating Barnsley Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust in April 2014 after it emerged that its financial
position is much worse than expected.
The investigation indicated that
there is a wider issue with how the trust is being run. The trust will take
action to look at what caused the problem and how it can recover and manage its
finances better.
In the last 18 months, Barnsley
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust also had 5 breaches of the national target to
ensure 95% of patients are seen in A&Ewithin 4 hours. The trust has
now agreed to seek expert help and put plans in place to cut waiting
times.
Frances Shattock, Regional
Director at Monitor, said:
It is worrying that Barnsley
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s finances have worsened so suddenly and
that the problem was not nipped in the bud. The trust is now taking action to
make sure that it recovers its finances and that it has strong leadership in
place to make the improvements needed.
It is also unacceptable that
patients in Barnsley have been waiting too long to be seen in A&E.
Although the trust has taken action to cut waiting times we want to make sure
this improvement is maintained.
We will continue to hold the
trust to account to make sure it is working well for patients, and will take
further action if improvements are not made.