A £16 million health cash crisis could force the closure of 12 nursing beds and an intermediate care ward, Chelmsford's primary care organisation warned this week.
The financial shortfall has resulted in emergency proposals from Chelmsford Primary Care Trust and the Witham, Braintree and Halstead Care Trust to tackle the situation.
The Trusts face huge deficits despite the Government pumping an extra £4.1 billion into primary care in Essex during the next two years, an increase of around 10 per cent per year.
Chelmsford PCT plans to close one of two intermediate care wards at St John's Hospital. Holly Ward was closed before Christmas because of staff shortages but has now been re-opened on a temporary basis by Mid Essex Hospitals Trust.
Other cash-saving plans include the closure of 12 short term nursing beds, six in nursing homes in Witham and cuts in prescribing costs and the move of clinics in Braintree.
Norma O'Hara, spokeswoman for the Trusts said: "Both organisations have spent more than they receive from the Government and at the end of this year are predicting that Chelmsford PCT will have a deficit of £10.3 million and the Care Trust will have a deficit of £6.9 million.
"There is no one single reason for the overspend.It is due to several factors.Our aim is to make sure that at the end of three years we are not spending more than we are getting in."
She said that the extra £4.1 billion had already been allocated: "Most of this growth will be needed to pay for developments that are already planned such as increasing the number of operations, improved cancer services, shorter hospital waiting times, more heart operations and developments in mental health services."
Both trusts are responsible for managing health services in their areas. The Care Trust has additional responsibility for social care for older people in Braintree, Witham and Halstead.
The two Trusts, which now have a joint management structure, are also looking at new ways of working so services can be developed while at the same time making savings. More cases are to be dealt with on a local basis, including treatment at home, to reduce hospital admissions. The commissioning of specialist services and management of long term conditions is to be reviewed.
A series of public meetings has been organised to give members of the public their say about the financial recovery plans.
The sessions will be held at Chelmsford Central Baptist Church, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford on April 1 from 1pm to 3 pm. More details on 01376 333285 or email: norma.o'hara@braintreecaretrust.nhs.uk or fax: 01376 331556. The deadline for comments is April 4.
Published Thursday February 17, 2005
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