Royal Berkshire Hospital subjected to 'stage two review' of annual plan

The move, revealed in trust board papers released to HSJ under the Freedom of Information Act, shows that Monitor has serious concerns that the trust’s forward planning was flawed.

The review was set to take place in August and September.

Board papers said: “The primary reason for the review is to provide assurance in relation to the quality and financial elements of the plan.

“It will include an assessment of the governance arrangements in place to manage the key risks and challenges in these areas.

“It was emphasised that this work will support the board through the transition and should be viewed positively as it would establish a clear baseline in advance of developing the five-year strategy.”

The trust is one of 13 across England to be made subject to a second-stage review.

The trust’s rating for quarter one is amber-green, which improves on its previous amber-red rating.

The trust achieved a financial risk rating of three in quarter one of 2012-13, in line with the trust’s budget plan. Non-recurrent support from Berkshire West Primary Care Trust was given, “in recognition of the cost pressures created by the high volume of patients medically fit for transfer that could not be discharged to community social care.”