Critical Financial Challenges Facing Greater Manchester’s NHS Services
This financial crisis stems from several issues:
- Strikes and other industrial actions by NHS staff.
- High costs from using temporary (bank and agency) staff to fill in gaps.
- Rising prices for prescription medications and mental health ward beds, worsened by inflation and ongoing shortages of drugs.
Understanding the Integrated Care System (ICS) in Greater Manchester:
The ICS is a collaborative network that includes NHS organisations, local authorities and other groups. Together, they manage and provide health and care services for about 3.1 million people across the region. This system, operational since July 2022 under the Health and Care Act, aims to boost efficiency and ensure value for money in healthcare.
Despite these efforts, the system faces significant financial challenges. It started the financial year with a forecasted deficit of £20 million, which ballooned to £86.5 million by August. Projections now suggest the deficit could reach £226.9 million by year-end without effective countermeasures.
Key financial pressures include:
- High costs for placing mental health patients in facilities outside their home area, often due to a lack of local resources.
- Budget shortfalls for critical medications without cheaper alternatives, exacerbated by national shortages, affecting drugs for conditions like ADHD and diabetes.
In response, NHS Greater Manchester is actively seeking ways to cut costs and improve financial management. This includes re-evaluating how services are commissioned to ensure they are both affordable and accessible.
Under the direction of Jackie Murray, Corporate Finance Director, the financial team is reviewing spending in all areas, preparing for the increased demands of the upcoming winter season.
As specialists in medical negligence claims, we recognise the potential impact of these financial difficulties on the quality of patient care and service delivery. It is crucial for those affected to understand their rights and available legal options.
We will keep a close watch on this situation and provide updates on any major developments.
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