Shropshire health trust needs to make another £3.6 million in savings
A group that pays for Shropshire’s health services must still make another £3.6 million in savings this year, on top of the £14.1 million saving schemes they have already identified.
Shropshire's Clinical Commissioning Group's financial recovery plan relies on making savings of £17.1m in 2017/18 and £16.5m in 2018/19.
At a board meeting in Shrewsbury yesterday, Simon Freeman, accountable officer for Shropshire CCG said six main schemes have been identified to make savings but more was needed.
These are complex care, prescribing, orthopaedic surgery, stopping operations of non-clinical value, reducing variation in non-elective activity and a community services review.
Mr Freeman said: "The savings make up a total of four per cent of the total CCG funding allocation so it is a substantial challenge.
"We are still £3.6 million short and are working hard to address that gap at the moment.”
Shropshire CCG has previously said too many people are being put forward for surgery with muscular-skeletal problems such as arthritis, hip and back pain when it could be better treated in non-surgical ways, and may be avoided altogether with the right support.
Mr Freeman added: "We are looking at a variety of different ways and treatment including weight management and physiotherapy instead of just going straight to surgery.
"This should save us £4.1 million in 2017/18 and £5.9 million in 2018/19.
"We are working hard on these saving schemes and are making sure they are the right thing to do for patients. They are also clinically led.
"However we still have some way to go.
"You cannot take £20 million out without some pain. It requires a steady hand and management.
"We are on a journey and are building the plane as we go. We will not be paying for these schemes identified and the contractors need to recognise this.
"We cannot continue to spend other group's money.
In 2015/16 the trust ended the year with an in-year deficit of £14.75 million and carried forward a recurrent deficit of £20.2 million
Shropshire CCG recorded a deficit of £25.9 million from March 2016 up to April this year.
The cumulative deficit is now £32.6 million.
NHS England was drafted in to oversee the group as its finances were described as among the worst in the country.
Shropshire CCG continues to be in 'legal directions' from NHS England and is in formal financial recovery.
