Trust is facing £10m shortfall

The funding deficit has been reduced by several million after Trust bosses secured additional funding over recent weeks.

Back in August, the Trust Board was informed that in May the Trust had advised the Health and Social Care Board and the Department of Health that the projected Western Trust deficit for the 2016/17 year stood at £22.2m.

In a Financial Performance Report for June presented in August however, the Trust Board was told that as a result of June Monitoring monies allocated by the N.I. Executive, the Trust deficit projection had been slashed to £14.7m.

Further funding has since been secured, and a spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust has now told the Journal: “The Trust is currently in discussions with the Health and Social Care Board on the funding position for 2016/17. Additional funding has been allocated in September 2016 which has reduced the projected year end deficit to £10.7m.”

Financial pressures facing the Trust and mentioned at recent board meetings included ED departments in Altnagelvin and South West Acute Hospital, as well as costs associated with medical locums and Looked After Children.