This is the first in a series of quarterly updates. It outlines progress on financial management and performance, forecasting the financial position of the NHS based on the first three months of the year. Although subject to fluctuation over the rest of the financial year, the forecast figures show:
- the NHS forecasting a surplus of £983m at the end of 2007/8 compared to the end of year position of £510m surplus in 2006/7 and a deficit of £547 million in 2005/6. This represents 1.3 per cent of the NHS budget - this money will be retained by the NHS and spent on further improving services and patient care.
- since last year the number of NHS trusts in deficit is predicted to reduce by three quarters to just 22, or only 6% of NHS trusts.
- the gross deficit is down from £911 million in 2006/7 to £204 million.