“Worrying state of affairs” at London trust

Published: 26 June 2012

The Royal College of Nursing has described the situation at South London Healthcare Trust as “a worrying state of affairs for both patients and staff”.

The trust has been formally warned it could be declared bankrupt and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has said an administrator could be brought in within weeks. If this happens, the trust could be dissolved and some services closed.

The RCN said the trust has been facing financial challenges for some time under the burden of private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. But despite this, staff have continued to do their best for patients, providing high levels of care.

The RCN is now calling for the trust’s financial deficit to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“If alternative methods of service delivery are to be considered, it is essential that patients, staff and the public are closely involved in the consultation process and that high levels of care continue to be maintained," said RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter.

The RCN is calling on the Government to go back to the PFI contractors involved and look at how the current debts could be managed more effectively.