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Seven hospital trusts in London have been highlighted by auditors as failing to keep control of their finances.
The Audit Commission's report found five of the NHS trusts, which run 12 hospitals in the capital, and include Whipps Cross, West Middlesex and North West London, went over budget by a total of more than £60 million last year. Barking, Havering and Redbridge had a deficit last year of £35million, "the highest overspend in the country".
The commission's Andy McKeon said: "Those scoring bottom marks need to take urgent action."
Reader views (2)
@ Wyndham Lewis, Stoke: "Bean counters"?
INDEED THEY ARE.
A disgrace to what used to be a civilised democracy.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 02/10/2009 10:41
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The Audit Commission would like you to think that these NHS trusts are wild overspenders.
The problem of course might actually arise from a number of different areas. One example could be that the grant allocation system for this hospital is all wrong. Another might be that specific cicumstances within the hospital have caused an overspend.
The other problem is that the Audit Commission are bean counters. They would have you slash funding and harm patient care.
- Wyndham Lewis, Stoke, 02/10/2009 09:47
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