Improvements have been made in various areas, says chairman

Chairman of NHS Tayside, John Brown said: “Today’s report looks back to NHS Tayside’s financial position at the end of 2017-18 setting out the well-documented challenges facing the board.

“We recognise that this is a valid review of last year’s accounts but we’re very disappointed that the report fails to recognise the progress which has been achieved since April 2018.

“The interim chief executive has worked closely with clinicians and managers to build a complete picture of the underlying financial problems over the past nine months and bring them to the surface so everyone has a better understanding of the challenges we face.

“He has also ensured that there is the capacity and capability to plan and redesign services in NHS Tayside and make sure the organisation is best placed to deliver real service change.

“Compared to last year, improvements are evident in financial management, leadership, governance and planning and, crucially, partnership working with our colleagues and partners in integration joint boards, local authorities, Scottish Government, universities and all our stakeholders.

“Strengthening our financial management has been a particular focus for NHS Tayside since April and I am pleased to report that up-to-date monthly financial reports are now shared with board members and the public, enabling them to have a much clearer and explicit understanding of the financial position.

“This has increased the board’s confidence in both the management of public funds and the actions being taken to bring NHS Tayside back into financial balance.

“This shift to a three-year financial planning and performance framework for all boards gives NHS Tayside flexibility around our transformation plans, enabling us to plan a sustainable future for NHS Tayside as a whole system of health and care.

“Over the past six months, our Transforming Tayside programme has put frontline clinicians to the fore of all of our planning and decision-making and it is this approach which will radically change the way we deliver care.

“Our leading doctors and nurses are very ambitious in their vision for what the NHS Tayside of the future will look like and they have established a real desire and commitment to get on and make change happen.

“We are entering a critical period for NHS Tayside at the beginning of next year; a three-year transformation plan, developed by our clinicians, and a threeyear financial plan for 2019-22 will be presented to the board for approval in February 2019.

“The board is clear, however, that any changes to our services will only be made if they result in an increase to our capacity and improve the quality of health and social care.

“It is no secret that NHS Tayside has been through an extremely challenging period over the last few years.

“That is why I must take this opportunity on behalf of the board to pay tribute to all our staff who have diligently made sure that patients and service users have always come first.”

Compared to last year, improvements are evident in financial management...

John Brown, chairman of NHS Tayside.