January 25, 2011 9.47 am This story is over 157 months old

New county NHS finance boss wants to tackle budget deficit

Health deficit: The new United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust wants to weather the Trust’s financial storm.

A financial director has been appointed to United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust to weather the financial storm faced by the Trust.

Kevin Turner (pictured) has worked in NHS finance for over 30 years, the last 15 of which have been at director level.

The appointment comes as all areas of hospital spending are reportedly under review as the Trust faces a £14m deficit.

The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed the expected overspend in its £384m budget for the financial year which ends on 31 March.

Turner said: “The NHS faces an unprecedented set of challenges, to improve services for patients whilst significantly reducing costs and becoming more efficient.

“We face an even bigger challenge at our hospitals across Lincolnshire because of the existing deficit.

“Going forward, we have to make some tough decisions without compromising the care we give to our patients,” Turner said.

”I look forward to taking on this challenge.”

The trust has three main hospital sites in Lincoln, Grantham and Boston.

Turner joined the NHS as a trainee accountant in his hometown of Doncaster in 1979, where he completed his training before moving to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston in 1988 to take up the position of Hospital Finance Manager.

Turner’s first Director of Finance role was at Lincolnshire Health Authority, which he joined in the mid 1990s.

He was appointed Director of Finance at North East Lincolnshire NHS Trust, in 1997.

He has since held the position of Director of Finance at two successful Foundation Trusts, most recently at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Kevin Turner is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, he has completed the NHS Strategic Financial Leadership Programme and is on the NHS Top Leaders Programme.

He has experience in working with NHS finances and is equipped to tackle the current financial challenges faced by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and the NHS as a whole.

Source: ULHT