Government to keep close eye on mental health trust

An NHS mental health trust facing a £29m funding shortfall will be kept "a close eye on", the Health Secretary Wes Streeting said.

The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust predicted the multi-million pound budget gap for 2026-27.

Jason Hollidge, chief finance officer, said the "quality of care" remained its priority, but no comment was made on possible job cuts.

Streeting said the trust faced a "real challenge" and he would work with leaders to ensure improvements were made.

"I'll be keeping a close eye on it and with NHS leaders nationally to make sure we continue to see improvements in the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Trust," he told BBC Radio Suffolk's Sarah Lilley.

"I know it's a real challenge I've put on to NHS leaders, I know it is hard, but if we just keep on pouring more money into the NHS without modernisation and reform, we will end up pouring more money into a leaky bucket, and patients will resent it."

The trust has been in and out of special measures for nearly a decade.

In February last year, it was moved out of special measures and now has an overall rating of Good with some areas that Require Improvement.

For 2025-26, it had a planned income of £375m, but in a report to Suffolk County Council, the trust outlined financial challenges for the next financial year.

It said it would still need to find £18.7m - or 5% - in efficiencies in 2025-26, was "facing a gap to break even" of £29.6m in 2026-27, and was looking to make "permanent efficiencies".

Peter Passingham, the regional organiser for Unison, which represents staff at the trust, said he expected there to be an impact on jobs or services.

The trust said it was finalising its annual plan for 2026-27, which would be submitted to NHS England.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.