Chesterfield Royal Hospital to review all services as it looks to save £27.4 million this year and create 'more sustainable future'

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust says it is ‘facing financial challenges’ but its priority remains ‘protecting patient care’ and building a ‘more sustainable future for Chesterfield Royal Hospital’ as it faces making massive savings.

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive, said: “We need to deliver £27.4 million of financial improvement this year, and that requires us to take a hard look at how we work, reduce waste, improve productivity and strengthen financial control across every part of the organisation.

"Like many NHS organisations, we are facing significant financial challenges driven by rising demand, increasing costs and the need to demonstrate better value from every pound of public money we spend.

“Financial recovery is not simply about balancing the books – it is about protecting the services our communities rely on and ensuring we can continue to provide safe, high-quality care.”

NHS England confirmed the trust has not received recovery funding but has received deficit support funding; the value for 2025/26 was £10.9m. Deficit support funding applies to the majority of NHS providers.

NHSE has been discussing the Trust’s plan to deliver its financial position but is not currently considering any stage of formal special measures.

All services across the trust will be nationally benchmarked – which means looking at the hospital’s costs compared to others – and where services are costing more than others from comparable trusts, Chesterfield is looking to reduce those costs.

The trust will face difficult decisions with all areas being reviewed including car parking charges and food prices.

Hal added: “We are on track to meet the challenge and we’re developing plans, which keep patient safe and deliver high quality care but everyone has a role to play in our recovery. Whether it's challenging unnecessary spending, improving the way we work, embracing technology or simply thinking about the financial impact of everyday decisions, small actions taken across the organisation can make a significant difference.

"Our communities can support us in many ways - not missing appointments, asking about patient-initiated follow-ups and only attending ED when it’s a real emergency. By working together, we can protect patient care, support our colleagues and build a stronger, more sustainable future for Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Thank you for your support.”