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Doctors
told not to treat people early
Trusts can't pay ahead of schedule
PATIENTS could face an agonising wait after doctors
were told not to operate on patients early because their hospital
won’t get paid.
People being treated at University College London Hospitals
may have to wait longer than necessary even if an appointment
becomes available before the six-month maximum waiting time.
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) – who contract procedures out
to the hospital – have asked doctors at UCLH not to treat
patients early unless “clinically urgent”.
Hospital directors keen to work towards a 2008 government waiting
list target of 18 weeks have vowed to fight back as “aggressively
and assertively” as they can, they maintain waiting lists
are at full capacity and no-one is missing out.
The cash-struck hospital – with a deficit running towards
£19 million – relies heavily on PCT referrals for
vital income.
Chief executive Robert Naylor said: “It’s upsetting
lots of people. Hospitals are saying we could treat patients
faster if you gave us more money.
“We have legally binding contracts with the PCTs, therefore
they are legally enforceable. If they don’t pay us we could
take legal action but we don’t do that because it’s
not in our interest.”
In last month’s board of directors report, finance director
Michael Foster said the PCTs can’t afford to pay for procedures
taken ahead of schedule because their budget won’t allow
it.
The hospital trust has received a number of letters from PCTs,
particularly from the Surrey and Sussex, North West London and
South West London Strategic Health Authority requesting doctors
stick to their agreed timetable.
Mr Foster said: “All the letters referred to the financial
position in their organisations and their inability to fund
performance over agreed levels.”
He said the consequence of undertaking procedures early would
“risk” the hospital’s “short-term liquidity
position.”
The hospital is now torn between safeguarding its income and
the needs of its patients.
One doctor told a meeting of hospital directors: “We have
been under cash pressure from some PCTs. We’ll continue
to fight our corner with them as aggressively and assertively
as we have so far.”
Under agreed contracts with the PCTs the hospital can charge
interest on any withheld payments.
A hospital spokesperson said: “University College Hospital
is currently full. No one has had their appointments cancelled
because of these requests.
We are currently considering how to deal with these requests
and are working with PCTs to ensure all patients get treated
at the appropriate time.” |
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