Cash crisis in new health authority

The new strategic body, which combines Bradford with Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees, has been recognised as having the worst financial position in the north alongside Greater Manchester.

At its inaugural meeting in Leeds yesterday, board members recognised that three of the four patches, excluding Bradford, were facing severe financial pressures because of their over-reliance on acute care.

Chief executive Richard Jeavons admitted cash was a priority.

"It's critical to quickly get on top of the financial framework and make the money work for the services and the patients," he said, "That's a really high priority for us."

At the final meeting of Bradford Health Authority, board members said they were proud of the financial and innovative legacy they were handing over to the new body.

But the deficit for West Yorkshire now totals £45.5 million, including Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust at £20 million in the red and a £10.5 million deficit at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust.

The West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service has also put itself at "financial risk" in a bid to meet target response times.

Performance targets for the area include a cut in nine-month waiting lists by 67 per cent and reducing the number of those waiting more than 13 weeks for an outpatient appointment by 60 per cent.

The authority's franchise report reads: "The severe financial situation in three of the four patches has a huge impact on their ability to respond to access targets. As a result, all four patches are sharing considerable risk in attempting to deliver these improvements."

Ann Wagner, the authority's director of performance, said it was a huge challenge but highlighted the work of Bradford Primary Care Trusts in slashing waiting lists by the use of GP specialists.

"Similar schemes are developing in other areas in West Yorkshire and our role would be to roll out the best practice," she said.