Monitor to investigate West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s finances
The health sector regulator has opened an investigation into whether West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has breached its licence to provide healthcare for patients, due to concerns about its financial performance.
Monitor will examine why the small district general hospital in Bury St Edmunds failed to meet its planned savings and overspent by around £4 million last year. West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has stated this is because of a number of factors including an increase in the number of emergency admissions and delays in discharging patients after treatment at the hospital.
As part of the investigation, Monitor will work with the trust and other NHS bodies to understand the trust’s financial position and the local response.
Monitor’s Regional Director for the Midlands and East of England, Adam Cayley, said:
We need to understand why West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s financial position has deteriorated and be assured that our concerns about its financial performance are suitably addressed and do not impact on the trust providing the care its patients deserve.
Monitor will announce the outcome of its regulatory investigation in due course.