Barometer: acute trusts May 2006

The latest HSJ Barometer survey of acute trust chief executives showed significant recovery in confidence, with only two indicators displaying statistically relevant falls.

There was a particularly sharp rise in overall optimism about finances, with confidence in achieving break-even or surplus rising to 5.67 out of 10. Seventy-one per cent of chief executives expected to avoid a deficit this financial year, which compares with 62 per cent when we asked the same question in March. Of these, 26 per cent said they would record a surplus, compared to 11 per cent last time.

The barometer survey is based on a panel of 70 acute trust chief executives and is carried out every two months. The confidential panel is asked to give scores of one to 10. These results are from the end of May, while the graph indicates main trends over time.