NHS chiefs learn of 'fundamental risks' over lack of finances

NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO MAINTAIN BUILDINGS

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT Local democracy reporter

NHS chiefs have heard how their trusts face “fundamental” risks including not having enough money to maintain their buildings.

A board meeting of the University Hospitals Tees group, which covers both North and South Tees NHS trusts, was told of the risks faced by the trusts, and which of those were outside “risk appetite”, meaning they are beyond the amount of risk the trust can accept.

Stuart Irvine, director of risk, assurance and compliance, presented the figures for April where both trusts had 30 “strategic risks”.

Of those, the North Tees trust had 10 which were just “outside the proposed approved risk appetite”, and seven of these were “red” or high risks on subjects like delivering savings and system capacity.

One related to the trust's “ageing estate”, its buildings and funding to maintain them.