HEALTH chiefs have promised to leave no stone unturned in their bid to plug a £21.5 million deficit over the next two years. Residents have been warned that what they may perceive as cuts in services may be on the cards in a bid to put a stop to the financial crisis which has dogged the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust. The trust, which is responsible for community and GP services in the area, is set to unveil its two-year plan for achieving "financial balance". Last Thursday, members of PCT's board heard that its financial problems are immense and that if nothing is done it will be left with a £21.5 million deficit by the end of the next financial year (2006\7). Non-executive director Ian Bowers said that plans were in the pipeline to make savings of £10 million this financial year and then an extra £10 million the following financial year. He warned that the PCT would "look at all options" including reducing the number of staff and carrying out a major shake-up of the services it provides and the way it provides them. He explained as the PCT had to find recurring savings it has to work closely with other organisations which provide health care survives, such as the Royal Surrey County Hospital, to find ways of saving cash. "It is a lot of change and we can't do it on our own," he said. Interim chief executive Jane Dale told the meeting that the PCT has begun discussions with the mental health sector, major hospitals and other professionals to see what steps can be taken. She explained that despite arguments that the PCT was not receiving enough cash the government had a set formula and has said that it will not give the trust any extra cash to bail it out of its financial problems. "We are living way outside our means," she said. "We are not going to get any extra money." The chief executive explained that the PCT had a duty to maintain a high standard of care but ensure that it is "affordable". She likened it to giving patients a silver standard of care which is affordable rather than a gold standard which is did not have the cash for. Ms Dale said that she understood the public would perceive changes as "a cut in service" but the priority had to be making sure that the trust complies with government orders to curb the deficit. "We need to look at everything," she said. "I cannot leave any stone unturned." She explained that the advantage of sorting out its finances means that if the trust were to receive extra money in the future, it could spend it on improving services rather than plugging a financial hole. PCT chairman Chris Grimes warned that the PCT had some tough decisions to make but said that the PCT currently delivered a "far superior service to other parts of the country". "The magnitude and scale of this is enormous," he said. Members of the board heard that work on producing the financial recovery plan was on- going and had already found ways of making significant savings. It agreed to note the progress report and await the detailed financial recovery plan in September.
