Walsall Manor Hospital financial position 'concerning', says boss

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is under pressure to cut spending at Walsall Manor Hospital after racking up a deficit of £1.6 million more than it had planned. Its actual deficit stands at £4.7m.

Chief executive Richard Beeken conceded the financial position was "worrying" but added he believed extra winter funding would help the situation.

Mr Beeken said the trust's reliance on temporary staff amid high sickness and vacancy rates was largely to blame, as well as running the under-pressure A&E department.

Fewer births have also had an impact on the finances, a new report revealed.

The trust could face a challenge to cut spending during the busiest time of year.

Pressure on hospitals is only expected to increase in the run-up to Christmas and new year.

A&E waiting times are currently at their worst ever levels nationally.

The Walsall trust was taken out of special measures earlier this year following improvements seen by the health watchdog.

A trust board report said "costs associated with servicing emergency department increased demand" and "high temporary workforce costs as a consequence of high sickness, vacancies and capacity" were largely responsible for putting a dent in the finances.

In a report to board members, Mr Beeken said: "We have all been concerned with the month seven (October) financial figures for the trust. Whilst income has largely recovered from a poor September, it is unlikely in elective terms to be sustained at this level without the strong day to day leadership of our operating theatres."

He continued: "I continue to believe that a combination of previously agreed central, non-recurrent mitigations to the run rate pressures, and previously unavailable central winter pressures funding, which is increasingly likely to be allocated, will enable us to deliver our financial plan this year."