St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been put into both financial and quality special measures.

The Trust, which is currently forecasting a deficit of £71 million, was put into special measures by regulator NHS Improvement which overseas foundation and NHS trusts.

The move follows an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June 2016 when the quality of care was not deemed adequate.

Everything aside from the caring nature of the staff, which received a ‘good’ rating, required improvement.

While under special measures the trust will receive a “package of support”- advice and guidance- from the NHS Improvement to help tackle its financial difficulties.

The Trust will also have a Financial Improvement Director appointed to it will hold is accountable and offer support.

Sir David Henshaw, Interim Chair at St George’s, said: “We are taking steps to reduce our financial deficit, whilst also tackling the long-standing and systemic problems the Trust faces. The problems we’ve identified are significant, but we are making progress.

“However, our financial deficit is not decreasing as quickly as we would like, and we will continue to work with NHS Improvement on our cost improvement plans for the coming year.

“We have already reduced the use of agency staff, and have introduced better coding systems to ensure we bill properly for activity undertaken – a systemic problem at the Trust for a number of years.

“We are also making much better use of operating theatres and outpatient areas, and our plans for the coming year will deliver further improvements in this regard. But we need to do more, and the appointment of an Improvement Director for finance will help us in our efforts to further address the challenges we face.”