North East CCG forecasts £6m deficit

The CCG has an annual budget of £288m and the predicted deficit represents around 2.3 per cent of this. It follows a small surplus recorded in 2013-14.

CCG chair Dr John Matthew, said the losses were down to more patients receiving hospital care and more demand on community services from patients with complex needs.

He said: “Demand for services has increased year round, and a particularly pressured winter saw a significant increase in urgent and hospital care for frail and older people. In short, demand for services has been outstripping the resources to pay for them.”