Audit report slams cash-strapped Wye Valley Health Trust (From Hereford Times)

Audit report slams cash-strapped Wye Valley Health Trust

12:00pm Friday 12th October 2012 in News

THE financial planning for Wye Valley Health Trust (WVT) over the past year was “unrealistic” and its efficiency programme “not fit for purpose”, an audit report has found.

While the report recognises progress was made on planning for 2012/13, it identifies at least another £9.5 million of outside support being needed just so the trust – responsible for acute, community and social care in the county – can break even.

The trust is currently managing a budget deficit of around £15.5m.

The resulting report reaches three key conclusions:

1. That the trust did not have a clear plan to address its high medical and administration costs;
2. Programme management arrangements for delivering efficiencies were not fit for purpose;
3. Planning savings/income generation schemes sometimes depended on other public sector partners who had not been involved in developing these schemes.

Responding to the findings, the trust’s board accepts that a more wideranging review of services will be required with previous plans looking to achieve savings only within the current model of delivery.

Interim chief executive Derek Smith was appointed last month, replacing previous chief executive Martin Woodford who retired after a lengthy period of sick leave.