Watchdog fails third of NHS trusts on value - The Guardian 23rd October 2007

Almost a third of NHS trusts in England failed to provide adequate value for money in the last financial year, the government's spending watchdog warns today. The Audit Commission said the NHS as a whole achieved a £515m surplus in 2006-07 after a £547m deficit in the previous year. But 104 hospitals, ambulance services and primary care trusts failed to meet the minimum requirements of sound financial management. Steve Bundred, the commission's chief executive, said 31% of trusts scored bottom marks for meeting financial targets, managing assets and providing value for money, against 39% last year. He named 27 trusts that failed every financial test and warned: "There appears little hope that they can get out of trouble by themselves."

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Additional Stories

One in three NHS trusts failing financially - The Telegraph 23rd October 2007

The funding feast over, now get ready to diet - The Telegraph 23rd October 2007

NHS finances improving but patchy - BBC Health News 22nd October 2007