NHS trusts urge caution over BMA finance survey

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7519.716-d

BMJ 2005;331:716 (1 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7519.716-d

News roundup

NHS trusts urge caution over BMA finance survey

London Lynn Eaton

The NHS Confederation, which represents NHS trusts and health authorities, has urged caution over the results of a BMA survey on NHS funding, which found that three quarters of trusts were in financial difficulty.

The survey claimed that most trusts faced funding shortfalls—but the confederation�s policy director, Nigel Edwards, said the survey covered only a minority of trusts and, although not inaccurate, does not give a complete picture.

"Anecdotal evidence we have been receiving from our members suggests that the minority of NHS trusts are examining a full range of options to balance their books," he said. "Some NHS trusts are undoubtedly having to make tough decisions because of financial pressure, although any measure which could have a direct impact on patient care, such as recruitment freezes and even redundancies, will always be a last resort."

The BMA survey was sent to 530 medical directors, of whom . . . [Full text of this article]

Add to CiteULike CiteULike Add to Complore Complore Add to Connotea Connotea Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us Add to Digg Digg Add to Reddit Reddit Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon Add to Technorati Technorati What's this?