NHS Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group Chair Dr. Steve Ollerton and Chief Officer Carol McKenna.
Overspending health bosses could be in the firing line as part of a strict NHS cost-cutting regime.
And the tight plan could spell trouble for Greater Huddersfield CCG (clinical commissioning group) whose finances and performance have been rated ‘requires improvement’ by national NHS chiefs.
CCG chiefs will become ‘directly accountable’ for keeping their organisations within budget under the NHS England ‘Strengthening Financial Performance and Accountability in 2016/17’ programme.
The ‘reset’ programme, introduced this week, aims to slash the national NHS deficit while providing extra money for improving CCGs and trusts.
But if Greater Huddersfield CCG, which manages NHS services in the town, exceeds its agreed £330m budget for 2016/17 its board and bosses could face sanctions.
The CCG was expected to end the financial year with a 1% surplus.
But NHS England ordered the organisation to draft a recovery after the CCG forecast a break-even, even after a ‘wide-ranging and potentially controversial’ range of savings.
Greater Huddersfield CCG was given the amber ‘requires improvement’ overall rating by NHS England this week.
The organisation was rated ‘good’ for its leadership, the services it commissions and its performance.
But it was rated ‘requires improvement’ for its finance and planning.
Headquarters for North Kirklees CCG at Empire House in Dewsbury.
Calderdale and North Kirklees CCGs received overall ‘good’ ratings.
Greater Huddersfield CCG said it had met its financial target since the report was published – but the finance rating could not be adjusted retrospectively.
A CCG spokesperson said: “For the year 2015/16, Greater Huddersfield CCG has been graded ‘good’ in three of the five assurance components. NHS England particularly noted the CCG’s strong leadership; the work it has undertaken in relation to demand for primary care services; and the successful implementation of a new community services contract.
“In respect of financial management, we have been given a grading of ‘requires improvement’. While the CCG did meet all of its statutory financial duties during the year, it was marked down in relation to the reporting of a specific target. Although we have been able to demonstrate that we actually met the target, NHS England is unfortunately unable to adjust our grading retrospectively.
“We have also been rated as ‘requires improvement’ in relation to planning. NHS England has indicated that for 2015/16 our performance has been good and in line with their rules. However, as we have signalled we are unable to plan for a financial surplus in 2016/17, our rating has been reduced in this area.