Shropshire health group set to come out of special measures

Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group was place in special measures in November 2015 so it could receive help from external experts to tackle its growing deficit.

The group was then put under formal "directions" last year by NHS England to address its financial problems.

Since then NHS England has been working with Shropshire CCG to strengthen its governance and leadership, and to address its financial deficit.

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.

The trust ended this financial year with a total debt of £33 million.

At a meeting of the group in Shrewsbury yesterday, Julian Povey, chairman of Shropshire CCG, said the group was now "stabilising" after a turbulent year.

He said: "We have been recommended by NHS England to come out of special measures due to our executive team being complete and also our new financial plan.

"We should be out of special measures by the end of this year as the team will be meeting again to discuss us in October.

"This year has been one of substantial change and we are now more stable and know our deficit. We also have a plan to reduce it to get to financial balance. Our role is we have to use the resources we have got to provide the best services for the people in Shropshire.

"However I think it will be a lot longer before we come out of formal directions. In fact more CCG's are now joining us."

Claire Skidmore, chief finance officer and deputy accountable officer, said: "We are still in a deficit position so we are spending beyond our means. We do continue to face challenges and we have to return to financial balance.

"Shropshire CCG continues to be in “directions” and in formal financial recovery.

"The overall financial position is we are currently forecasting an in year deficit of £19.4 million which is in line with the agreed control total.

"The cumulative financial position is forecasting £52.04 million deficit which includes brought forward £32.6 million from previous years.

"Currently the CCG has delivered £1.3 million savings against a plan of £1.1 million hence achieving a position slightly better than plan.

"Forecasting indicates that the £17.71 million target will not be met by the schemes in the CCG’s original plan.

"However, project managers have undertaken an exercise to look at further potential schemes to ensure that savings for the year total £17.71 million."