NHS Oldham told to slash spending

NHS Oldham has been told to make cutbacks as part of a spending curb of almost £1bn across Greater Manchester.

The organisation is one of the region’s 10 primary care trusts which have been told to slash spending.

The move calls a halt to increasing investment in the NHS, which has more than doubled since 1997, in the face of massive national debt.

The trusts must between them made savings of £950 million over the next four years. NHS Oldham chief executive Gail Richards said detailed plans were being drawn up to improve effectiveness and efficiency, while maintaining and improving quality of services.

They include ways to cut waste and duplication, such as tackling missed appointments, cutting the number of follow-up appointments on patients’ advice, and streamlining prescription systems for care homes.

And members of the public and staff have been drafted in to make suggestions. She said: “Over the last decade the NHS has gone through a phenomenal period of growth.

“Now that that growth is ending, all NHS organisations have been asked to look at how they can make services more effective, while continuing to improve them for patients.

“NHS Oldham has always worked hard to ensure that every penny of taxpayers’ money counted by spending it wisely, leading to acknowledgement by our regulators that we have achieved good financial management.”

Mrs Richards then sent a message out to Oldhamers.

She added: “We would like even more feedback on how we can improve things.

“Please contact me with your comments.

She can be contacted on 0161-622 6511 or by e-mail at gail.richards@nhs.net