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South London NHS trust should be dissolved, says administrator South London NHS trust should be dissolved, says administrator
(35 minutes later)
A debt-stricken NHS trust which was on the brink of bankruptcy should be dissolved, an official consultation has concluded. A debt-stricken NHS trust that was on the brink of bankruptcy should be dissolved, an official consultation has concluded.
South London Healthcare NHS trust, which runs three hospitals in the capital, was the first to be placed in administration after it started losing some £1.3m a week. South London Healthcare NHS trust, which runs three hospitals in London, was the first to be placed in administration after it started losing £1.3m a week.
Special administrator Matthew Kershaw said the trust should be broken up, with other organisations taking over the management and delivery of its services.Special administrator Matthew Kershaw said the trust should be broken up, with other organisations taking over the management and delivery of its services.
The report, which came after Kershaw was tasked with putting the trust on a stable financial footing last year, recommended any debts should be written off by the Department of Health so new organisations were not "saddled with the issues of the past".The report, which came after Kershaw was tasked with putting the trust on a stable financial footing last year, recommended any debts should be written off by the Department of Health so new organisations were not "saddled with the issues of the past".
Its recommendations would result in a radical overhaul of services in south London. This would see the Queen Elizabeth hospital site in Woolwich come together with Lewisham Healthcare NHS trust to create a new organisation providing care for the communities of Greenwich and Lewisham. The Princess Royal University hospital in Farnborough, near Bromley, would be acquired by King's College hospital NHS foundation trust. Its recommendations would result in a radical overhaul of services in south London. The Queen Elizabeth hospital site in Woolwich would come together with Lewisham Healthcare NHS trust to create a new organisation providing care for the communities of Greenwich and Lewisham, while the Princess Royal University hospital in Farnborough, near Bromley, would be acquired by King's College hospital NHS foundation trust.
The report stated: "In order to deliver this transformation programme, South London Healthcare NHS trust should be dissolved and other organisations should take over the management and delivery of the NHS services it currently provides."The report stated: "In order to deliver this transformation programme, South London Healthcare NHS trust should be dissolved and other organisations should take over the management and delivery of the NHS services it currently provides."
Kershaw said the south London trust remained the "biggest financial problem" across the NHS.Kershaw said the south London trust remained the "biggest financial problem" across the NHS.
According to the report, which was presented after no "viable alternatives" were put forward, the trust's hospitals need to make £74.9m of efficiency savings over the next three years.According to the report, which was presented after no "viable alternatives" were put forward, the trust's hospitals need to make £74.9m of efficiency savings over the next three years.
Kershaw added: "I have said consistently that the status quo is not an option, and I believe these final, refined recommendations are the right ones, although I appreciate that some people will find them difficult to accept. I do believe that, if implemented fully, they will help deliver safe, high-quality, affordable and sustainable services for the people of south east London into the future." Kershaw added: "I have said consistently that the status quo is not an option, and I believe these final, refined recommendations are the right ones, although I appreciate that some people will find them difficult to accept. I do believe that, if implemented fully, they will help deliver safe, high-quality, affordable and sustainable services for the people of south-east London into the future."
Dr Jane Fryer, medical director for NHS South East London and report adviser, said: "As a practising GP in south-east London for 24 years, I believe the recommendations in this final report will ensure our patients receive safe, high-quality care which will simply not be possible if the situation here continues and no changes are made.Dr Jane Fryer, medical director for NHS South East London and report adviser, said: "As a practising GP in south-east London for 24 years, I believe the recommendations in this final report will ensure our patients receive safe, high-quality care which will simply not be possible if the situation here continues and no changes are made.
"Making changes to emergency, maternity and planned care over the next three years, alongside the important improvements we need in primary care and community services, will deliver a transformation in the NHS locally – a service saving lives and improving health outcomes."Making changes to emergency, maternity and planned care over the next three years, alongside the important improvements we need in primary care and community services, will deliver a transformation in the NHS locally – a service saving lives and improving health outcomes.
"Clearly, not all clinicians agree with our proposals, but overall I believe by implementing them we can transform the way the NHS delivers services in south-east London, improving care for all in a long-term, sustainable way.""Clearly, not all clinicians agree with our proposals, but overall I believe by implementing them we can transform the way the NHS delivers services in south-east London, improving care for all in a long-term, sustainable way."
The final report has been presented to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has 20 working days to review its recommendations and make a decision on the future of the NHS in south-east London by 1 February.The final report has been presented to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has 20 working days to review its recommendations and make a decision on the future of the NHS in south-east London by 1 February.