Health deficit is slashedby £143m (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Health deficit is slashedby £143m

AVON, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority has made massive savings over the past year of £143million.

Despite the stunning figure this still leaves the authority almost £20 million shy of its target.

But chief executive Trevor Jones confidently told the biannual meeting with other board members last Thursday that the deficit should be squashed by the end of this month.

Mr Jones said the authority had been working with primary care trusts and other hospital trusts to ensure a financial balance.

He identified cut backs in agency nurses and more sensible referrals to hospitals and GPs as some of the prime reasons behind this result.

"It's a range of things, some of it is extra cash, some is managing the health trusts better," he said.

"Some of it is only referring people to hospital when it is necessary and efficient management

"Having permanent staff as well has made a difference. One of the biggest costs has been the employment of agency staff.

"One hospital had in the region of 20 per cent agency staff and they have cut it down to ten to five per cent.

"We also looked at how theatres are used. If they are used efficiently and as effectively as they can be, such as, are they over-running or is the equipment there when there's no doctor?

"We were actually spending money we did not have. No one can spend money you don't have. How do you replace that with money you won't receive? This process has been about getting control of Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire."

Mr Jones also said that the deficit that exists represents less than 0.1 per cent of the strategic health authority's £2.3 billion budget.

Mr Jones also said the counties were not reaching their accident and emergency target of 98 per cent of patients seen within four hours.

However, he put some of this was put down to viruses and wards being shut down because of the illnesses.

It was also commented that the number of people waiting more than six months for treatment was falling but not as fast as it should do.

Associate director for performance at the strategic health authority, Julian Brookes, said: "We should meet targets but it will be tight."

The public meeting will take place in Jenner House at Langley Park Estate, Chippenham at 10am today.