NHS trusts are being placed under pressure from Government to change the way they report on their finances, in what critics described as a desperate attempt to reduce a looming health service deficit.
The health service is currently forecasting a deficit of £3bn by the end of this month – the highest in the history of the NHS – amid widespread failures by NHS trusts to cut their spending.
But documents seen by The Daily Telegraph disclose that the Department of Health has embarked on a national programme to change current accountancy practices, and to encourage trusts to be more optimistic about their financial problems.
The review being carried out by four major accountancy firms aims to explore “areas of opportunity” about ways which NHS finances could be reported differently. …”
… “This definitely falls into the area of fiddles – being clever about when you book income and when you book expenditure” – Sally Gainsbury, Nuffield Trust” …
East Devon Watch 