News story

Hospital in Swindon will take action to improve its finances

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to better manage its money, following an investigation by Monitor.

The health regulator found the trust in breach of its licence to provide services to patients in Swindon and Wiltshire, because it lacked both a robust financial recovery plan and a plan to ensure it continues to provide services for patients in the long term.

In particular, the trust needs to increase its efficiency, for example with how well it manages the money it spends on agency staff, and how effectively it discharges patients once their treatment is complete.

In recognition that the trust can’t fix all of these problems alone, Monitor has been coordinating action between local health organisations to help reduce costs while ensuring patients across Swindon and Wiltshire continue to receive services.

Monitor will continue to scrutinise the trust’s performance as it delivers plans to fix its problems, and will take further action for patients if necessary.

Published 21 April 2015