Use of resources
More than a third (37%) of trusts received a score of 'weak' for use of resources in 2005/2006, the first year of the Healthcare Commission’s annual health check.
This means they failed to manage their finances adequately for the year to March 31st 2006.
Only 3% of trusts were given a score of 'excellent' for use of resources, 13% were given a score of 'good' and 47% of trusts were 'fair'.
These scores were based on assessments carried out by the Audit Commission and Monitor. These organisations also play a role in the regulation of healthcare organisations in the NHS.
Read press release on use of resources (pdf 56kb)
Which type of trust performed best
Foundation trusts performed better than all other trusts, with no scores of weak. However, they are scored differently because they are able to borrow money and go into deficit.
Primary care trusts fared least well – none of the 303 primary care trust assessed in 2005/2006 received a score of 'excellent' and only 24 (8%) received a score of 'good'. Worringly, among all of the non-foundation trusts, 87 trusts that did not meet their financial targets also failed in the other key areas of financial management and value for money. This means they would have received a score of 'weak' even without a deficit.
Which region performed best?
Trusts in the north performed best. Twenty five per cent scored 'good' or 'excellent', compared with 11% of trusts in the central region and 12% in the south west and London and the south east.
