David Stout, director of the North Central London Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), today told Islington councillors – along with others from Camden, Haringey, Barnet and Enfield – that he did not know how to ward off an impending £876million health budget deficit.
The five boroughs have been forced to come together to devise a plan to dramatically improve health and social care finances, with one potential move being the “consolidating” of departments across the Whittington, Royal Free and University College hospitals.
Questioned by the cross-council Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Hendon Town Hall, Mr Stout said: “If we do nothing, the gap in our finances would grow to something like £900m in five years.