'Unsound' financial start to year for Sandwell and West Birmingham

For May, the trust generated a “bottom line” surplus of £25,000 which is £6,000 better than the planned position, as measured against the Department of Health performance target.

For the year to date, the trust has a deficit of £204,000, which is £296,000 worse than the planned position.

Capital expenditure for the year to date is £1m and the cash balance at 31 May was £11.6m above the plan.

Minutes from the previous month’s meeting - when the unplanned deficit stood at £235,000 - states: “Overall it was noted that the circumstances did not represent a sound financial start to the year.”

Pressure on pay expenditure was noted specifically and the use of agency staff was highlighted to be high, despite the context of low sickness absence.

The board was advised that this situation was expected to be linked to some degree to the number of bank holidays during April.