Battle goes on for mental health trust funding

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HSJ’s daily digest of Thursdays significant developments for healthcare leaders.

Today’s must know: Half of all nurses at ‘inadequate’ trusts worried about staffing
Today’s risk: Mental health trusts fear commissioners will not pass on funding increases
Today’s talking point: If you haven’t had enough already, “it’s the election, stupid”

More than half of all nurses at eight hospital trusts rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission are worried about staffing, according to data exclusively shared with HSJ.

Information from the most recent NHS staff survey, the percentage of nurses at the inadequate trusts disagreeing with the statement “There are enough staff at this organisation for me to do my job properly,” ranged from 56 per cent to 74 per cent.

See the interactive chart in the story or download full figures for each trust here.

A consensus has emerged in recent years about the link between staffing pressures and quality. Unfortunately the imperative to recruit extra nurses has also contributed to ballooning deficits.

In the latest chapter in mental health trusts’ battle to see their funding increased, we reveal a new survey has found more than half of mental health trusts fear their commissioners will not pass on funding increases for 2015-16.

The survey by NHS Providers indicates some CCGs may not be carrying out instructions from NHS England to increase spending on mental health in real terms.

Last year the government railed against the fact that NHS England and Monitor had cut tariff prices for mental health by more than the reduction proposed for acute providers, but to little immediate effect.

Will the centre have more success ensuring mental health gets its share of increased funding this time around?

As the general election campaign reaches its climax today, many will be staying up into the wee hours of the morning to see who’s got the best shot of forming a government, and what it might mean for the health service.

Over the course of the campaign HSJ has compiled an unparalleled set of election health articles and resources.

For the must read interviews, the manifesto breakdowns, the polls and predictions, and the common ground between the parties’ health policies which could be the basis for a post-election deals, you need look no further.

HSJ will bring you health-relevant political developments as they happen, and all the insight on what it means for the NHS as and when a government is formed.