WALTHAM FOREST: Council and PCT in "wrangle" over cash shortfall (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Council and PCT in "wrangle" over cash shortfall

6:54pm Tuesday 10th February 2009 in News By Jonathan Moyes

HEALTH bosses are at loggerheads with the council about how to plug a quarter of a million pound shortfall in funding for the care of children with long-term-illnesses and disabilities.

For several years the cost of looking after children with complex needs has been met by the council because the primary care trust (NHS Waltham Forest) has been short of money, it is claimed.

But as NHS Waltham Forest is now more financially stable the council this year demanded it pays its share, as is the case in most London boroughs.

A cabinet report shows the council's Children and Young Services department originally expected NHS Waltham Forest to pay slightly more than £1million in contributions, but this sum was cut in half following negotiations.

While savings were found from other council services for half of the £500,000, wrangling over who is responsible for paying the remaining £250,000 has continued.

Cllr Michael Lewis, chairman of the council's finance sub-committee, said: "Either NHS Waltham Forest is refusing to pay up or something has gone wrong with the way the budget has been set.

"It is unclear to me whether the council received an agreement from NHS Waltham Forest that it would pay or whether the cabinet assumed it would get this money without seeking firm assurances."

Sally Gorham, chief executive of NHS Waltham Forest, said: "We are not in dispute with the council but like all partnership across London we will be working to finalise joint care costs of children who have both health and social needs as we near the end of the financial year.

"NHS Waltham Forest and the council are jointly reviewing the ongoing arrangements for sharing costs as part of our partnership work.

"Both organisations are proud of the benefits that have been achieved through the strong partnership that exists in Waltham Forest."

Cllr Chris Robbins, children cabinet member, said: "This is an ongoing piece of work to safeguard the needs and welfare of the borough's young people and, as such, is at the forefront of what we and NHS WF are trying to achieve."