NHS trust is millions behind financial recovery plan

THE financial struggles of Nottinghamshire’s scandal-hit mental health hospitals have been deemed a major risk to care, as the trust that runs them drifts millions off budget.

- By JOSHUA HARTLEY

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the county's mental health services, is running £4.4 million behind a recovery plan, according to recently-published documents.

The trust was running a £17 million deficit by the end of October - the seventh month of its financial year - despite it putting in place a financial recovery plan to slash its costs.

The trust's board papers explained the overspending was being caused by a combination of increasing bank staffing costs, private sector bed usage and efficiency measures not saving as much money as hoped.

Alison Wyld, the trust's executive director of finance and estates, said it was moving forward with several recovery plans to stabilise its situation.