Northern Lincolnshire hospitals face increased deficit

The trust runs hospitals in Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole

A NHS hospital trust could face a deficit of £11m by the end of the financial year.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG), which runs hospitals in Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole, described the projected deficit as "not a sustainable position".

It had predicted a £6m deficit in June this year.

The trust said an increase in demand on its services was partly responsible.

Marcus Hassall, director of finance at the trust, said: "We are still in negotiation with our local clinical commissioning groups over the level of funds available to us for the current year.

"We face growing demand for our services, particularly in areas such as diagnostics and high-cost drug treatments, and this drives up the costs we must pay for staff and consumables."

'Public concern'

Labour councillor Ray Sutton, who sits on North East Lincolnshire Council's health and wellbeing scrutiny panel, said he was "shocked" to discover the projected deficit.

"I think it's a major concern that we're hearing it's going up from £6m to £11m in this financial year," he said.

"It's a matter of public concern and the question is how do we as the public now find out how we're tackling that deficit?"

NLAG was one of 11 trusts placed in special measures in July 2013 after a government-commissioned review into higher-than-expected death rates.

It was removed from special measures in July.