High agency staffing costs made worse by Covid-19 related absence over recent months added to difficulties recruiting staff could leave the region's biggest NHS mental health trust facing a deficit of £8.5m this year.
NHS bosses at the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear mental health trust warned that challenges around staffing, demand on services and finances made for a difficult operating environment. Wards across the trust's four service areas - North Cumbria, "North" (Northumberland and North Tyneside), "Central" (Newcastle and Gateshead) and "South" (Sunderland and South Tyneside) - reported high vacancy rates and high levels of agency staffing in May.
A report discussed at the trust's board meeting on August 3 highlighted these concerns. After the first quarter of the 2022-2023 financial year, a finance report highlights that CNTW currently has a £2.6m deficit. The Trust is forecasted to deliver a £5.6m surplus as part of a financial plan agreed with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System.
But, the report also warns: "However, the Trust have identified a scenario based on existing trends and forecasts that could lead to a £8.5m deficit due to an increase in use of temporary staffing and no predicted change from this trend evident in the group's current forecasts."
This troubling financial picture was discussed "robustly" during a privately held "board development session" ahead of the meeting, and chair Ken Jarrold said: "I think any service user or carer or member of staff, would have felt that we were facing up to the realities that we're facing.
"But we were also very concerned to make progress with those realities: Realities of demand, realities of staffing and the reality of the financial position. As you will all know, all of those three are really difficult, not just the CNTW for the NHS."
In a further "safer staffing report" which is brought to the trust's board regularly, chief nurse Gary O'Hare and deputy chief nurse Anthony Deery wrote: "Although the number of Covid outbreaks on wards reduced in May, staff sickness continued to be impacted by community Covid rates. This was compounded by ongoing long-term sickness and vacancy rates throughout the Trust.
"Many wards continued to report high patient acuity levels and a particularly high level and complexity of need for a small number of patients. High bed occupancy levels were experienced on all main sites and St. George’s Park and Specialist [children's and young people's services] reported particular staffing pressures, including those related to the effects of the ongoing registered nurse vacancy rate.
"The demand for temporary staffing, i.e. Bank and agency, remained high and use of off-framework agencies were required to help meet the required fill rates across the Trust." St George's Park is the trust's mental health hospital in Morpeth.
The board reports highlight that recruitment campaigns are underway across the trust, while workforce plans are being reviewed.
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