One of London’s largest mental health trusts, East London Foundation Trust, is attempting to cut spending by £29m – and putting the quality of services at risk, with the potential loss of up to 365 jobs, including adult and child and adolescent services, according to the largest union in the Trust, Unite.
The cutback comes as a result of NHS England pressure on North East London Integrated Care System to deliver no more than a £35m deficit for 2024/25. NELICS ended last financial year £48m in the red, and is already £59m in deficit by month 3 – £32m worse than the planned position – and compelled by NHS England to bring in management consultants to help drive through the necessary cuts to get back on track.
North East London faces the toughest savings target of £289m: but ICB Board papers show all five London ICSs face similar targets for savings in 2024/25, totalling £1.23 billion, with North Central London the lowest target at £206m.
Full article in The Lowdown, 15 September 2024