Issue - meetings

The Board was given a verbal update on the financial position of the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) since it was required to accomplish budgetary cuts. It was highlighted that the PCT had produced a Balanced Budget Plan as opposed to a financial recovery plan which had different connotations as to the issues surrounding the cuts. It was explained that the PCT needed to find at least £11m reductions to its expenditure for 2006/7 in order to contribute to the pan-London budget deficits. The Board heard however, that despite this reduction to the PCT’s expenditure, it would still represent growth in expenditure which would continue to contribute to some significant advancement in patient care in Haringey. 

The Board was given a brief outline of the two-month long root and branch review that the PCT undertook in terms of the budget review to identify the £11m cuts which emphasised the focus on minimising disruption to patients and maximising efficiency. In the event, £14m worth of cuts were identified from the review which have been encompassed in a Report which has gone to the Haringey Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and will subsequently be considered for final agreement at the PCT Board meeting on 26 July 2006 .

The Board discussion some of the repercussions of the cuts and was informed that the biggest savings had been achieved by targeting programme for efficiency such as reducing patient referrals from GPs, and not from service programmes such as mental health provisions – this provision in particular causing some difference of opinion over the extent of cuts applied. The Board also heard the concerns of Haringey Council over the pace and scope of the changes caused as a result of the cuts, and asked for a bullet point list of the Balanced Budget Plan for consideration at the next meeting of the Board. Rounding up the discussion, the Board heard that the £14m worth of cuts included provisions for slippage as the cuts were implemented.

For the future, the Board heard that joint-working in terms of budget setting was in the pipeline for future periods, having accepted that the timings and consultative arrangements surrounding this period of budget planning was not ideal, but was nonetheless absolutely necessary despite the lack of opportunities for consultation and engagement in the process which was caused due to the election purdah. There was a brief discussion on x-ray provision at St Ann’s Hospital, and the alleged withdrawal of sexual health provision at St Ann’s. The Board agreed the principal of its remit in terms of budgetary issues, noting that the Board should be involved in strategic discussions especially over budget development, and to look at the linkages between health and well-being at a strategic level of between the next 3-5 years.

RESOLVED

(i)                 That the Board notes the verbal summary given on the financial position of the PCT.

(ii)               That the Board will receive a bullet point list of the Balanced Budget Plan which highlights  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9