THE trust responsible for Watford General Hospital has been exposed as suffering the worst financial problems in the NHS.
Bosses at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust ran up debts of £11.5 million equivalent to 6.6 per cent of its income making it the worst-performing health trust in the country.
It means Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority, which is responsible for overall health care in the two counties, is being forced to apply for a grant of £25 million from the NHS bank. This move is considered to be a last resort.
The massive deficit has been blamed on under-funding from the Government, employing costly agency staff to cover staff shortages and spiralling medical costs. But hospital managers have been warned they must cut back on spending.
The trust which also runs parts of Mount Vernon, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans City hospitals was named and shamed in the National Audit Office's list of the 46 trusts with "significant financial difficulties" during 2001/2002, published two weeks ago.
Watford General is the busiest of the four hospitals, attracting 30,000 patients a year, but struggles with staff shortages, low morale and inadequate resources.NHS trust has 'worst debts'
April 7, 2003 16:30
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