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NHS Grampian outlines savings steps to cut deficit

Rachel Bell
BBC Scotland News
Getty Images An aerial view of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with surrounding buildings and ambulances queued outsideGetty Images
A number of services will be stopped or reduced on public holidays by NHS Grampian

NHS Grampian has outlined how it intends to save money in a bid to ease its financial difficulties.

The recovery plan, submitted to the Scottish government, details how the health board will deliver a £23m reduction in its forecast deficit.

Reducing some services over public holidays, stopping the provision of nappies in hospital settings and reducing spiritual care are among the savings identified.

The moves come after the announcement last month that the health board had been escalated to stage four of NHS Scotland's National Performance Framework over concerns about its finances and governance.

In the year ahead, NHS Grampian has the highest forecast financial overspend in value terms throughout NHS Scotland.

The Scottish government said the maximum level of overspend permitted by the board was £45m.

It requested a financial recovery plan be developed, detailing how it intended to cover the financial gap.

Details of that plan, submitted to the Scottish government on 30 May, are being presented to the NHS Grampian board on Thursday.

It identifies a reduction in return outpatient waiting lists of 30%

This would see outpatients, where appropriate, receive results by phone or letter to reduce clinic appointments.

Getty Images A laughing baby in a white baby grow with a nappy underneath lies on a matGetty Images
Disposable nappies for babies which are born well will no longer be provided

A number of services will be stopped or reduced on public holidays to reduce unsociable hours payments to staff.

These include cancer day services, paediatric elective surgeries and non-critical radiology services.

Disposable nappies for well babies born in hospitals and maternity units will be stopped.

That proposal would not affect babies which need special-sized nappies that are admitted to the neo-natal unit.

There will also be a reduction in the delivery of spiritual care provision through reduced staffing.

The recovery plan warns that failure to achieve savings may result in a further escalation on the Scottish government's performance framework and an inability to financially support current levels of service provision.

On Thursday, members of the NHS Grampian board will be asked to endorse the recovery plan.

A three-year financial recovery plan is to be developed and reported to the board in October.