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NHS Improvement chief warns some trust plans ‘not sufficiently robust’

What does NHS Improvement want to see in trust plans for 2018/19?

NHS Improvement has told providers some draft activity, workforce and financial plans for 2018/19 look unrealistic or unachievable.

In an email to the sector this week, organisation chief executive Ian Dalton wrote that plans submitted by some trusts needed further work before final submissions are made on 30 April.

He commented that in some cases activity plans, financial plans and performance trajectories were not in line with each other, and that capacity and/or workforce assumptions did not always seem realistic or deliverable in the current climate.

With high levels of occupancy, each trust should set out bed numbers, capacity, planned activity, planned financial position and realistic anticipated performance levels for each month.

Mr Dalton added that highlighting any potential problems at the start of the year and then addressing them would be ‘infinitely preferable’ to submitting a plan with no realistic chance of delivery.

The email was sent to trusts only, and has not been signed by NHS England.

NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said his organisation’s conversations with NHS Improvement had indicated the regulator wants to see realistic 2018/19 plans that reflect what trusts genuinely believe they can deliver so that there can be a sensible debate.

Further information

HSJNHS Improvement chief: trust plans are unrealistic and unachievable

NHS Providers: Chris Hopson

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