NHS trusts overspent by £648million, with health bosses blaming a surge in demand and ‘bed blocking’
Figures have revealed six in ten trusts broke their budgets and the true overspend will be nearer £2.47billion
NHS trusts overspent by £648million in the first half of this financial year.
Health chiefs blame a surge in demand and cuts in social care that have led to increased “bed blocking”.
Six in ten trusts broke their budgets, with the deficit forecast to hit £669million by the end of the year. And £1.8billion of emergency funding in 2016-17 means the true overspend will be nearer £2.47billion.
Bosses spent 16 per cent more on agency staff than planned, despite strict new rules limiting their pay.
Trusts have seen a 4.1 per rise in admissions to major A&E departments and a 35 per cent increase in bed blocking.
Health think tanks say the figures highlight the need for more NHS funding in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement next week.
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Sally Gainsbury of the Nuffield Trust said: “More people need healthcare, yet the money to provide it is tightly squeezed.”
A major incident warning was sent to staff of the University Hospitals of Leicester Trust this week when parts of the emergency department became “permanently full”.
