PCT 'saves £35m in a year' (From Wiltshire Times)

PCT 'saves £35m in a year'

5:09pm Friday 23rd May 2008 in News By Wiltshire Times Reporter

WILTSHIRE Primary Care Trust director of finance John Williams has urged his colleagues not to rest on their laurels now that the health trust is debt free.

In the last 12 months the PCT has saved £35m and repaid historic debts from predecessor organisations of £43.8m. South West Strategic Health Authority has written off the remaining debt of £40.8m.

Mr Williams, who is due to retire in September after a 42 year career, said: "Our agenda now is about strategies for health, not crisis monitoring, but we have still got to make sure we stay in balance."

The PCT will have to give £17m out of its £591m budget to a fund set up by the Strategic Health Authority to assist other health trusts in the region which are in financial difficulties.

Mr Williams said because of the PCT's strong performance in saving money the SHA was giving the PCT £4m to bring waiting times down for patients waiting for hospital treatment to 13 weeks this year.

The PCT also plans to reduce the length of time that the majority of patients attending accident and emergency hospital departments wait to be treated or discharged from four hours to two hours over the next three years.

The PCT was formed in October 2006 following the merger of Kennet and North, West and South Wiltshire PCTs.