THE trust which runs hospital services across the county is running a deficit of more than £40million it has been revealed.
The chief executive of Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust, which runs Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, has spoken of the aim to now reduce the deficit that has been reported as £42m in the submitted financial position for 2022/23.
The latest meeting of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's board heard there are various reasons for the deficit, including:
- Income reduction of £36.5m, due in part to COVID and other adjustments from 21/22
- Inflation including a significant increase in energy prices and PFI charges
- Revenue impact of significant business cases including the Urgent & Emergency Care Centre
The figures were revealed as part of the 2022/23 annual plan, which includes the "aspiration" of achieving an outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission.
Chief executive Matthew Hopkins said: "I would expect certainly before the end of June to be sharing more detail over the financial outlook, such as we have it."
The chief executive was asked if there was any likelihood of national money to help them.
Mr Hopkins replied: "The only hint we have had is support for inflationary pressures.
"I think beyond that we should work on the basis it is highly unlikely that will be any further immediate funding this year.
"I wouldn't want to look too gloomy but I do think given the informal signals, I think we are going to need to focus on what we can deal with and do."
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We reported at the start of the pandemic, in April 2020, that the trust's debts of the time - totaling £321,580,000 - had been written off as part of more than £13 billion wiped by the government to strengthen the county’s health system to tackle coronavirus.
And we also reported at the pre-pandemic time the trust had been running with a deficit of £72.5m during the year 2018/19.
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