NHS Improvement has decided to place Isle of Wight NHS Trust into special measures for financial reasons for financial under performance and an ongoing significant deficit.
For the current financial year, in January, the trust confirmed an increased deficit of £13m more than its original financial plan and has not yet been able to sufficiently explain the deterioration or how it will be addressed.
The trust is already in special measures for quality and while the trust has placed considerable focus on improving the quality of care for local patients, the trust has not placed equal focus on improving their finances.
The trust is now expected to develop a plan to make sustained improvements to both its quality and financial performance. Any improvements to its financial position must not have a negative impact on the quality of care.
Financial special measures is designed to help NHS trusts facing the biggest financial challenges. Under the integrated oversight of the Regional Director for the South East for both NHS Improvement and NHS England, support for the trust from both organisations will be aligned to help develop and implement this plan. This support will include:
- Appointment of Financial Improvement Director to focus on improving financial rigour at the trust;
- Review of the trust’s Cost Improvement Programme planning to maximise the opportunities for efficiency savings;
- Streamlined oversight of delivery from NHS Improvement and NHS England creating a single improvement conversation.
Confirming the decision today, Anne Eden, Regional Director South East, NHS Improvement and NHS England said:“Despite the unique challenges faced by the island’s geography and the efforts of staff at the trust, the current financial position at the trust is not sustainable. There is strong evidence to show that high quality care and financial grip go hand in hand and the trust must now drive improvements at pace to ensure local patients consistently receive high quality, safe and cost-effective care.”
