Investigation to be launched into Royal Bournemouth Hospital performance

Chief executive Tony Spotswood has written to his staff telling them that hospital regulator Monitor is poised “to investigate our financial position and our plans to meet performance targets”.

It follows the trust being placed under review after registering a £5.2million deficit in the last financial year, which is expected to increase to £12.9million by April 2016.

There were also breaches of accident and emergency and cancer waiting time targets.

This resulted in Monitor requesting an explanation from the trust.

The government body had warned the hospital that a full investigation would be launched if the answers it received were not satisfactory.

It now appears the trust failed to allay those concerns and the Echo understands Monitor will announce today that a formal investigation will be undertaken.

Referring to this in a briefing document to his colleagues, Mr Spotswood said: “This assessment will support us in our mission to deliver high quality care for patients.

“As financial pressures continue to increase alongside rising demand for our services, our board and wider management team are focussing on how we can meet quality performance targets while managing our sensitive financial position; two targets which are a challenge for trusts across the UK, including our own, are cancer and Emergency Department waiting times.”

Mr Spotswood added that Monitor now includes criteria to assess the sustainability of hospital services.

“Monitor has consequently highlighted our trust as an organisation with potential for change,” he added.

“Our trust looks forward to working closely with Monitor’s team to explore how we can make our systems even more robust to deliver sustainable, affordable, high quality patient care.”

The Care Quality Commission has recently completed an inspection at the hospital, with trust bosses expected to be given a draft of the full report at some point in December or January.