Health group in West Norfolk ‘more stable’ on financial front
Health chiefs in West Norfolk have claimed the outlook for services is brighter as work to tackle a multi-million pound financial deficit continues.
West Norfolk’s clinical commissioning group (CCG) says it has stabilised its position after being warned earlier this year that it could lose its powers if it did not tackle its problems.
Officials outlined their hopes to help improve the treatment for some of the area’s sickest patients along with its financial plans during its annual general meeting in Lynn town hall last Wednesday.
The CCG has a £9 million deficit and placed itself in financial turnaround autumn last year.
But a financial target and plan has been approved by NHS England.
And the CCG’s accountable officer, John Webster, said measures including the installation of a new executive team and work to improve planning, commissioning and contract management, were having an effect.
He said: “Over recent months, we have seen a more stable financial position and we continue to see improvements in financial planning and control.
“The future is looking more assured thanks to the CCG team and all they do for us.”
He added: “We are going to place a greater emphasis on our use of data and evidence as we drive the decisions we make as an organisation.
“Our aim is to focus on the high-risk patients to ensure they receive the right treatment and we can do that by using technology better.
“We know who those patients are but we have got to use the information more effectively.”
The meeting also provided an opportunity for partners such as Age UK, Norfolk Community Health and Care, the Alzheimer’s Society and West Norfolk Council to promote some of their services.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS, officials from the Norfolk Records Office brought along lecture notes from a student nurse and Lynn hospital management committee meeting in 1968 as well as architectural plans. A film of the old Lynn hospital from the 1930s was also shown.
