Moray and Aberdeenshire health board NHS Grampian faces tighter measures
NHS Grampian is now just one step away from falling under direct Scottish Government control, with new measures set to be imposed over its financial crisis.
The health board has been escalated to Stage 4 of the government’s performance framework - the final level before ministers take charge under Stage 5 rules.
A written statement from Health Secretary Neil Gray confirmed the decision was taken over concerns about NHS Grampian’s finances, governance and leadership and the “impact this may have on the delivery of local services”.
The Scottish Government will oversee the development and delivery of NHS Grampian’s Improvement Plan to address concerns in spending.
“NHS Grampian has been experiencing significant financial and operational pressures for several months,” Mr Gray added.
“Further, formal escalation is felt necessary (along with the additional support and scrutiny this provides) to help mitigate the significant risks to both the local Board and wider, overall NHS Scotland financial positions.
“The key focus of this further escalation will be to arrest the rate of expenditure in NHS Grampian and help mitigate immediate concerns about financial and associated operational pressures, and to stabilise the system.
The Health Secretary added that a consultant-led study is underway to draw up plans for cuts, with results expected in June.
NHS Grampian is the first health board to be taken to Stage 4 since NHS Forth Valley, in November 23, 2022.
Documents released before the last NHS Grampian Board Meeting confirmed that the Scottish Government loaned NHS Grampian £67.5 million to balance last year’s budget.
They also contained warnings that oversight would be stepped up, if the health board could not meeting targets for cuts.
A top official warned NHS Grampian that its financial position “threatens the stability” of the entire country’s health and care budget and ordered “swift remedial action”.
NHS Grampian was “very grateful” for the loan, a report said, which brings the total sum owed to the Scottish Government to £92.2 million - which it will have to repay after balancing its books.
The health board has the biggest overspend in Scotland and the third-largest in percentage terms.
Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross said: “This news is deeply alarming and points to an ever-deepening crisis within NHS Grampian.
“Patients and dedicated staff across this area have borne the brunt of years of chronic underfunding and gross mismanagement from the SNP.
“Successive SNP health secretaries have been missing in action as staff have been pushed beyond breaking point and local services have been closed or drastically reduced.
“This situation is not going to get better anytime soon unless NHS Grampian are finally given the resources and support they need to deliver high-quality services.
“The onus is on both the SNP government and NHS Grampian to urgently outline a plan to tackle this crisis and to guarantee that it won’t escalate even further.”
NHS Grampian is currently recruiting a new Chief Executive Officer, who is expected to be in post by the middle of next month.
