Hospitals in East Anglia region at risk of bankruptcy

Posted 23/08/2012

A report from the Government’s watchdog, Monitor, has revealed their quarterly assessment of the financial and governance risks associated with every NHS Foundation Trust within England.The report has identified that 52 Foundation Trusts face either increased financial or governance risks for 2013; six of these are within East Anglia.The Trusts at risk are James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust; Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Of these, the year-on-year statistics show the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to be making the most progress in improving its position.Sharon Allison, a Medical  Injury Lawyer at Ashtons Legal says: “These results are most concerning. It is quite astonishing that we have managed to get to the stage where so many local Trusts are now in such considerable difficulty that the only way forward is further substantial financial cuts and addressing governance issues.Staff are demoralised and patient care is suffering. The Government are pushing ahead with their plans to reform the way civil legal claims are funded, which in turn will undoubtedly reduce much needed access to justice for many thousands of victims of medical accidents. Anyone who suffers a medical injury now should ensure that they seek legal advice sooner rather than later as the system is set to change in April next year.In my view, by allowing this to get to such an abysmal state and then denying those injured through a medical accident the opportunity to seek proper redress, is incomprehensible.”If you think you may have a medical injury claim, please contact Sharon Allison or any member of the Medical Injury team on 01842 752401.