Six London health organisations short of cash

17 MARCH 2010

Four of the capital’s acute trusts and two primary care trusts (PCTs) are short of cash, the London Assembly has heard [1]. 

Deficits [2] have been forecast by South London Healthcare NHS Trust (-£37.7m), Barking, Havering and Redbridge acute trust (-£19.7m), West Middlesex acute trust (-£5.2m), North West London Hospitals (-£8.2m), Enfield PCT (-£10.5m), and Sutton and Merton PCT (-£4.2m).

The Assembly’s Health and Public Services Committee expressed concern after NHS London admitted the deficits and acknowledged they are getting worse. The total amount of forecast deficit is £85.4 million, which is considerably more than the £72.6 million total of trusts and PCTs in deficit at the end of in 2008/09. 

This is despite a considerable effort by NHS London to turn around the financial position of the capital’s PCTs and other trusts.  And while certain NHS organisations are struggling, overall the NHS London has said it will end this financial year in surplus.

Chair of the Health and Public Services Committee, James Cleverly AM, said: “NHS London has told us that it is going to be even tougher in future years, so it is very worrying that six of the capital’s PCTs and acute trusts are in the red already. 

“We are concerned about the size of these deficits and the impact they could have on the services Londoners receive.  Questions must be asked about whether the underlying problems that caused the deficit have been addressed.”

Notes for editors:

  1. Watch the archived webcast of the meeting can be viewed at: http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/webcasts
  2. NHS London response to the London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee – 9 March 2010
  3. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

James Cleverly is available for interviews.  For more details, please contact Lisa Moore or Julie Wheldon in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4603/4283.  For out of hours media enquiries please call 0207 983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.  Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.