Monitor takes action to fix finances and leadership at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
As a result of Monitor’s investigation, the trust will seek help to plug a £7.55 million hole in its finances, so that it can continue to provide quality care for its patients.
Monitor began investigating Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in April 2014 after it emerged that its financial position is much worse than expected.
The investigation indicated that there is a wider issue with how the trust is being run. The trust will take action to look at what caused the problem and how it can recover and manage its finances better.
In the last 18 months, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust also had 5 breaches of the national target to ensure 95% of patients are seen in A&E within 4 hours. The trust has now agreed to seek expert help and put plans in place to cut waiting times.
Frances Shattock, Regional Director at Monitor, said:
It is worrying that Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s finances have worsened so suddenly and that the problem was not nipped in the bud. The trust is now taking action to make sure that it recovers its finances and that it has strong leadership in place to make the improvements needed.
It is also unacceptable that patients in Barnsley have been waiting too long to be seen in A&E. Although the trust has taken action to cut waiting times we want to make sure this improvement is maintained.
We will continue to hold the trust to account to make sure it is working well for patients, and will take further action if improvements are not made.