NHS Highland looks for £17 million from Scottish Government
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NHS Highland has agreed to ask the Scottish Government to cover a £17 million overspend that was run-up in large part through its drug and adult social care budgets.
The move was accepted at the first health board meeting chaired by the newly appointed interim chairman Professor Boyd Robertson on Tuesday, with the request for help – formally known as "brokerage" – expected to be made by the end of this week, ahead of the financial year end on Sunday.
NHS Highland's financial position has been difficult for months, with the government previously intervening to place it at stage four on its performance escalation framework – where the highest level, five, indicates a service in crisis.
At the start of the year it was acknowledged that managers had a mountain to climb in order to meet the £50.5 million savings challenge that was necessary to balance its budget.
However, more than £30 million was identified through the annual operational plan, followed by a further £2 million that meant the board was able to confirm that it needed just under
£17 million from the government in order to break even for the year.
NHS Highland chief executive Iain Stewart said: “We will have to go to the government at the end of the financial year, which is the end of this week and, at the moment, we will be going to get £17 million.
“At this moment it is precisely about £16.9 million.
"That is what I reported to the board and that is what I will ask for, pulled down from £19 million.”
The news came after it was revealed that NHS Highland has been given a major funding boost to improve waiting timesfor patients – previously among the worst in Scotland for some procedures.
A £2 million boost earlier this month includes £1.2 million for an additional mobile operating theatre at Raigmore Hospital.
