CASH strapped health chiefs have given the green light to a £4million investment programme in a bid to cut waiting times for patients.
The move comes despite Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust not having money earmarked to fund the spending.
Trust chairman Karagh Merrick admitted they were ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’ but said: “We will not sacrifice patient outcomes for money, but that does not mean we are giving a blank cheque – we need to find the right balance.”
Health chiefs are currently facing the challenge of trying to meet their NHS debt target of £42.7million, while struggling to find more than £20million in savings as part of a ‘Cost Improvement Programme’ (CIP).
The decision to find the £4million was taken after shock new figures showed the Trust was once again failing to hit a number of key Government targets for Accident & Emergency waiting times and referral to treatment times.
These showed that just 27 per cent of patients with potential breast cancer were seen within two weeks – the target is 93 per cent.
Meanwhile, just 61 per cent of patients started their cancer treatment within 62 days – the target is 85 per cent.
For A&E waiting times, Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital was once again better than Worcestershire Royal, seeing 82 per cent of patients within four hours compared to 66 per cent at Worcester. The target is 95 per cent.
Trust board members heard staff shortages were a key factor but that more weekend appointments, increased holiday cover and the ongoing staff recruitment drive were being used to address the matter.
The Trust also intends to apply for a £16million loan from the NHS to further reduce waiting times.
Mrs Merrick said: “If we are to make progress towards some of our performance standards like referral to treatment time and waiting times, we have to recognise that we need to take steps to mitigate the cost.”
NHS Improvement is using a carrot and stick approach to the Trust’s finances – if it hits its monthly deficit target funds are released from NHSI’s Sustainability and Transformational Fund.
More funds would also be released if it hit its operational target, totalling a potential windfall of nearly £13million.
However, health chiefs heard that they were currently £900,000 off target with another £7million yet to be found to achieve its CIP target.
