How much is the latest year end deficit for the provider sector?
The regulator NHS Improvement says the combined end-of-year deficit for hospitals in England will be worse than planned.
NHS trusts and foundation trusts are forecasting a deficit of about £623m — £127m more than predicted. This does not include additional pressures and potential spending needed to meet them over the winter months.
NHS Improvement says this is despite the NHS treating more patients than ever before with more people seen within four hours in A&E and within 18 weeks for planned care.
The regulator says:
- cost improvement programmes delivered £1.257bn of improvements in the first six months of the year
- hospitals delivered a £119m reduction in temporary staffing for the first six months of the financial year, compared to the same period last year and are on track to deliver the £2.5bn reduction in agency staffing spend target set for 2017/18
Further information
Gov.uk: NHS spending: Autumn Budget 2017 brief
NHS Improvement: Quarterly performance of the NHS provider sector: quarter 2 2017/18