Imperial Healthcare, London, Britain’s largest NHS Trust, is spiralling into financial meltdown as new rules introduced by the Department of Health shatter their financial standing.
With a turnover of £910 million and with planned £70 million savings (read cuts), a £40 million funding pothole has now opened beneath its feet. The Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer, Commercial and Strategy Directors and its Chief Information Officer all resigned. Imperial faces being placed in NHS “turn round”, which equates with receivership.
Many of Imperial’s services are potentially not viable since Secretary of State Lansley’s decision to roll back the pioneering work around “Healthcare for London”, the blueprint for health provision for England under the last government. This was overseen by Professor Darzi, Head of Surgery at Imperial. Some see the current attack as payback for such radical and progressive proposals. ■