Addenbrooke’s hospital put in special measures after being found inadequate as regulator Monitor warns that it will notch up £64m deficit
One of the UK’s largest NHS trusts has been found inadequate by inspectors as it predicts a £64m deficit this year.
Addenbrooke’s has been put in special measures by health service regulator Monitor, over concerns regarding staffing, treatment delays and governance failings as well as wildly overspending on its budget. The trust had an average overspend of £1.2m a week, the regulator claimed.
Monitor's investigation concluded “that the trust lacks the adequate financial control it requires. It has failed to deliver the necessary savings and has not submitted a credible plan to address its rapidly growing deficit".
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Despite the high level of spending, staff shortages meant there was not enough cover on wards and delays in outpatient treatment, as well as governance failures.
Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, which runs Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Birth Centre, which is also being put in special measures, was inspected in April and May by the Care Quality Commission.
Sir Mike Richards, the Care Quality Commissions’ chief inspector of hospitals, criticised the trust's management as "staff felt that senior managers were unaware of the issues they faced".