Report: NHS is financially balanced but deficits remain

It has been revealed that although 287 NHS organisations reported a gross surplus for 2006-7, 82 organisations revealed a gross deficit of £917 million for the same period.

The figures were published by the National Audit Office, which also explained that 80 per cent of the reported deficit came from ten per cent of NHS organisations.

Predictions have also been made for 2007-8, with a net surplus of £1,790 million forecast, compared to the £515 million achieved overall the previous financial year.

Sir John Bourn commented on the findings: “The national picture is one of financial balance, but there remains a relatively small core of NHS organisations that continue to report significant deficits.”

He added that financial management was vital to the NHS and the services it provided to patients.

Meanwhile, a report by thinktank the King’s Fund has suggested that the introduction of polyclinics to replace GP practices could result in poorer patient care, revealed the Guardian.