By Nick Triggle
Health reporter, BBC News |
 One in four trusts has been put in turnaround |
Campaigners have accused the government of wasting money after it emerged one in four NHS trusts has had a financial hit-squad sent in to rectify debts. Ministers first announced consultants would be going into 18 of the worst-hit NHS trusts in England in January.
But that figure has risen to 143 as the NHS struggles with deficits - trusts predict debts of over �1bn this year.
The government said the "turnaround" teams were offering varying levels of support and doing an important job.
External consultants
It is not known how much the teams are costing, because most of the funding is coming from individual trusts or strategic health authorities - regional bodies which oversee NHS trusts.
However, the NHS in England is set to spend �172m this year on external management consultants - a rise of 83% in two years, according to figures obtained by the Conservatives.
Not all the teams involve external consultants as some trusts are using in-house NHS teams and the help on offer varies from consultants having positions on the board to financial experts acting in an advisory role.
Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien said: "The impact of Labour's financial mismanagement of our NHS is exposed through the vast increase in the number of turnaround teams.
"As they are Labour's solution to Labour's problem it is no surprise that the cost they incur is vast.
"Labour can no longer be trusted to run our NHS. By sending in these hit-squads it is clear that they no longer even trust themselves."
Consultants
Alex Nunns, of the Keep Our NHS Public campaign group, added: "In some cases the money paid to consultants is more than the actual deficit.
"It seems absurd."
But the Department of Health said: "Turnaround support will vary in each organisation, from direct hands-on support in a trust to arms-length advice to SHAs.
"Fortnightly reports are being received from the most challenged organisations and, although it's early days, estimates show that the average saving identified is 4% of their income."
However, John Appleby, chief economist of the King's Fund health think tank, said the case for the turnaround teams was still not proven.
"We don't know what impact they are having on reducing the deficits. But I think one effect of them is that they are making the NHS face up to the problem."
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In some cases the money paid to consultants is more than the actual deficit. It seems absurd
