NHS continues strong performance

The Quarter 3 (October – December 2009) performance report published today highlights that:

• Despite the adverse weather conditions experienced during the end of the quarter, nationally the NHS maintained delivery of the operational standard to treat all patients within 18 weeks from referral to treatment;
• The number of cases of healthcare acquired infections continues to fall with a 35 per cent reduction in MRSA infections compared to the same quarter last year - this is a 77 per cent reduction against the 2003/04 baseline;
• Good progress continues to be made on improving access to GP services with 122 new GP health centres and 90 new GP practices open; and
• The latest figures for child obesity are the lowest since 2001 and show that the rise in child obesity has levelled off.

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The NHS Performance Framework results showing monitoring of performance against minimum standards highlight that nationwide, there are 55 trusts ‘Performing’ (48 acute trusts and 7 ambulance trusts); 26 trusts with ‘Performance under review’ (22 acute trusts and 4 ambulance trusts); and eight trusts ‘Underperforming’ (all Acute Trusts). This compares with 52 trusts ‘Performing’ in Quarter 2, 31 trusts with ‘Performance under review’ and seven trusts ‘Underperforming’ on minimum standards.

At quarter 3 of 2009-10, the Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts are reporting a healthy overall financial forecast of a £1,274 million surplus, with a further £192 million of surplus forecast in the NHS Trust Sector, all of which will be available for reinvestment in the NHS. However, in spite of this overall level of surplus, we cannot afford to be complacent as there are still a few organisations struggling to balance their finances and we will continue to focus our attention on these organisations.

Commenting on the report David Flory, the Department of Health’s Director General of NHS Finance, Performance and Operations said:

“This report confirms the excellent progress the NHS is continuing to make and its achievements in key priority areas.

“A strong financial position, backed by good progress on delivery, will continue to ensure high quality services for patients, particularly in the current economic climate.

“But we mustn’t be complacent. These are tough times and we are committed to continuous improvement in efficiency. Sir David Nicholson has set the NHS the challenge of making £15-20 billion in efficiency savings by the end of 2013/14 that can be reinvested within the service so that it can continue to deliver year on year quality improvements.”