Hospital bosses reveal £64 million overspend

Difficulties recruiting doctors and running two acute hospitals for a “relatively small’’ population have placed a “financial strain’’ on the North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust. 

And at a meeting on Tuesday of the NCUH Trust Board, members were told the Trust’s financial position continues to be “really challenging’’. 

They heard the Trust’s initial plan, which was submitted in May 2015, was to deliver a £42.5m deficit for the year. 

However, this has now been reset to a deficit “no more than’’ £64.6m. A Trust spokesperson said: “The reasons for the historic and ongoing financial problems facing our Trust have been well documented. 

“Difficulty recruiting permanent doctors means we are reliant on locum and agency medical staff to ensure the delivery of safe services to our patients which cost the Trust £14 million in 2014/15. 

"Running two acute hospitals 40 miles apart for a relatively small population size places a financial strain not felt by Trusts in more densely populated parts of the country. 

“In 2014/15 we received considerable financial help which will not be recurrent in 2015/16, hence the difference in the size of the deficit compared to last year. For example, we received £12 million non-repayable deficit support from central government in recognition of some of the structural issues faced by the Trust.’’ 

The Trust, the spokesperson said, was "aware of our responsibility to spend public money wisely and, as such, are constantly reviewing the way we work to see where savings can be made, without compromising on patient safety and care. 

“Staff have been asked for their suggestions for making our hospitals more efficient, and these ideas are being shared throughout the Trust. “We are also working closely with our colleagues in the Success Regime to understand more about the underlying structural problems affecting the NHS in Cumbria and how we can address these.”