NHS Maintains Strong Financial Position, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 04 Mar 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The NHS continues to forecast a surplus for this financial year with the vast majority of NHS trusts in balance, the Department of Health announced.

The new figures are based on the first nine months of the financial year. Although subject to fluctuation to the end of the financial year, they show that the NHS is forecasting a surplus of £1.8 billion at the end of 2007/08 compared to a deficit of £547m at the end of 2005/06. This surplus represents a small proportion of the overall NHS budget - just 2.3 per cent - and the money remains within the NHS.

There has also been improvement on reducing the gross deficit, which is now expected to be £143 million, compared to £204 million in the first quarter of the financial year and £917 million at the end of 2006/07.

Commenting on the report David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS said:

"Today's report not only shows that the NHS now has a strong and sustainable financial position, but also - importantly - it shows that we remain on course to deliver against our key pledges."

The figures are included in the third NHS quarterly performance report, which will outline progress on financial management and summarise delivery towards key targets such as tackling infection and 18 weeks.

In the third quarter of 2007/08, the NHS has continued to deliver improvements to patient care, such as:

- 98 per cent of patients were offered a GP appointment within 2 working days - and 98 per cent were offered an appointment with a primary care professional within 1 working day
- continued progress in the fight to reduce HCAIs, with an 18 per cent decrease in MRSA bloodstream infections and 21 per cent decrease in C. Diff figures
- more patients now wait 18 weeks or less from referral to treatment
- 69 per cent of admitted patients (compared to 48 per cent in January 2007) and 79 per cent of non-admitted patients
- the target to reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases and strokes by at least 40 per cent by 2010 has been met five years early

'The Quarter' report updates the NHS on progress towards key priorities, including financial health and can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk.

Department of Health