FINANCE: The foundation trust reports that its largest single variance in income is in non-elective income, which is £1.9m below plan to date.

The adverse cumulative variance is largely as a result of a 7 per cent reduction in spells in surgery, giving rise to a shortfall of £2.0m. Around £0.5m of this is arising in kidney transplants, caused by a decrease in the numbers of non-beating heart donors.

Overall the trust has achieved a year to date surplus of £1.1m, which is £3.3m worse than plan.