Dispute Over Unpaid 7m Patient Bill

By EXCLUSIVE by JOE WILLIS

A DISPUTE has broken out between two debtridden NHS trusts over a 7m bill for patient care.North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) is refusing to pay for certain treatments carried out last year at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton.South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the Friarage, is already wrestling with longterm debts of 21m and overspending this year of 3.8m.Fears are growing that the latest blow could affect key services at the hospital.Councillor John Blackie, chairman of the North Yorkshire County Council health scrutiny committee, said: “The Friarage is going to be more than ten per cent short of its turnover because the PCT is not prepared to pay.”Patently, this is going to threaten some of the services that are provided by the Friarage.”Coun Blackie said accident and emergency, maternity, general surgery and anaesthesia were the departments most likely to be affected.He said: “These are the services that will be looked at first because they cost the most.”It just so happens that these services are also the most important to people who need unplanned medical attention.”Simon Pleydell, chief executive of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “There is a difference of view between us and the PCT as to how much they will pay for the activity we have done for them during the year. We will have to go through a resolution process with them to agree how much money they will pay.”This is a key issue for us, as our financial balance is predicated in a reasonable settlement.”We will continue to work with our health partners on the economics and financial planning requirements to secure services long-term at the Friarage.”Mr Pleydell said the trust was aware of the challenges and financial pressures facing the PCT.He said: “We are working closely with them on their short-term plans to help them address their overspend.”Last night, a spokesman for the PCT said bosses were negotiating with the hospital trust over the outstanding amount.He said: “Primary care trusts are responsible for the costs of patients’ treatment and, as such, draw up agreements with local hospital trusts based on levels of patient activity.”Discussions continue to finalise this agreement with South Tees Hospitals Trust – these discussions are yet to reach a conclusion.”Earlier this month, North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust chief executive, Dr Janet Soo-Chung, said the PCT had the biggest overspend in the NHS. It will be 45m in the red by the end of the financial year.Bosses plan to save 10m by the end of this financial year from a 890m allocation. Controversial short-term cuts have been introduced, including suspending a range of procedures, such as IVF, epidurals for back pain, lumbar x-rays, joint injections, vasectomies and removal of non-malignant skin lesions.

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