| |
Hospital bosses fear pain of losing funds
PATIENT services at University College London Hospital could be under threat after bosses learned they face losing millions of pounds in NHS funding because of the economic downturn.
UCLH chief executive Sir Robert Naylor reported “a series of potential implications arising from the current economic situation,” including government plans to claw back £10million from the hospital’s reserves.
UCLH finance director Mike Foster has had meetings with other London hospitals who are, in his words, “all facing similar challenges”.
Sir Robert told a board meeting last Wednesday the hospital may only be able to spend “a small proportion of the current year’s surplus in the next financial year” and that after 2010 annual funding would nose-dive.
He added: “As a result, the trust should be preparing for a 5 per cent cost improvement plan.”
The hospital will have to shelve £7million from the £140million it spends each year.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged not to cut health services during the recession, but the Department of Health is now attempting to retrieve millions of pounds in unspent NHS funding being kept by foundation trust hospitals for a rainy day. More than £10million is held by the UCLH and the government wants it back.
In a recent report the chief economist at the King’s Fund health think-tank, Professor John Appleby, said: “Although the Prime Minister pledged not to cut spending on health, with foundation trusts reporting cash balances of £2.5billion and the rest of the NHS planning a surplus of £1.7billion, the government may look to claw back end-of-year NHS surplus funds.
?Taking back unspent money may not be viewed as a cut.”
Sir Robert told the board he was hoping to persuade the Department of Health to increase funding for teaching and research carried out by hospitals in London.
A hospital spokesman said: “In the current climate, it is important for us and other London trusts that we are properly recompensed.”
But hospital chairman Peter Dixon has warned that it would “be very difficult for London trusts to make their case in the current economic and political climate”.
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
