Audit Committee, 10 Dec 2008
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Official Report
216KB pdf
Section 22 Report: Response
“The 2007/08 audit of Western Isles Health Board”
We have received a response from the accountable officer on the Auditor General for Scotland's report on the 2007-08 audit of NHS Western Isles. We have deliberated long and hard about NHS Western Isles and considered the health board in some detail. I am not sure that there is much more that the committee can do. Unless members have something specific that they want to pursue, I suggest that we note the report.
I agree, but it is worth pointing out that Nicola Sturgeon mentions—in paragraph 9 of her letter to John Angus Mackay—that the board's financial plan
"projects a return to recurring balance by 2010-11"—
I asked about exhibit 3 earlier partly because it showed a recurring balance table—
"and you assured me that you remained sighted on this."
I do not know what that means, but those are the words in the letter. It suggests that the health board is expected to make either surpluses next year and in 2010-11, or a very big surplus in one of those two years.
According to the table in exhibit 3 that I asked about earlier, the current recurring deficit is £2.5 million. In order to achieve a surplus, there would need to be quite a significant turnaround from the current position, which, as I understand it, is effectively to achieve a break-even point. We need to keep a careful eye on that. It will be very challenging for such a small health authority to achieve a recurring neutral position by 2010-11 without there being an impact on clinical services. At least we now have an answer to that question—the last time that we discussed it, there was no target. We do not know whether that target is the result of pressure from the Scottish Government or is entirely voluntary on the part of the health board, but it suggests that the target is to achieve that break-even point within two years.
We can continue to ask for updates on the issue. It is worth recording yet again our gratitude for the progress that has been and is being made by those who are currently involved with Western Isles NHS Board—there has been a remarkable turnaround.
In his letter, on page 4 of paper AU/S3/08/18/5, under the heading "Staffing", Kevin Woods states:
"More generally, the Scottish Government is facilitating a significant level of additional staffing support to strengthen the capability of NHS Western Isles."
That is a positive step, but I am keen to get more information on the support that is being provided. Given that we asked about senior staffing, I would like to know exactly what is being done.
We have no information to date, but we can find that out. Do members agree to note the report?
Members indicated agreement.
Meeting continued in private until 12:31.