We are facing a significant financial challenge. We must achieve £36.9M in cost improvements – our highest ever total – and there is national focus on NHS organisations meeting their financial plans. At the end of month one we are already £1.5 million off track. Without immediate and consistent action, the gap will grow quickly. Every decision we make, every day, matters, and everyone has a part to play in getting us back on track. 

We cannot spend more than we receive. Every NHS trust is expected to make cost improvements each year as part of its responsibility to use public money carefully and efficiently. Acting early and steadily gives us more control and helps us avoid more difficult decisions later. It also means we can continue to shape our future, rather than having decisions made for us.

At CHFT, we are proud of the care we provide every day. Our teams continue to deliver high-quality services in challenging circumstances, and that commitment makes a real difference to the people we serve. 

Like all NHS organisations, we are also facing rising costs and increasing demand. Things like pay awards, medicines, utilities and service pressures mean it costs more each year to run our services, while our income does not increase at the same pace. This creates a gap between what we receive and what it costs to deliver care, and if we do nothing, that gap will continue to grow. 

Executive Director of Finance, Stuart Baron, said: "Spending Smarter Together is about how we respond to this challenge in a way that protects what matters most. It is not about cutting corners or reducing the quality of care. It is about using our resources wisely so we can continue to deliver safe, effective services now and in the future. Making careful decisions about money is part of being a well run, responsible organisation and helps protect our services, our values and the care we provide for local people. 

"This is something for all of us. Small, everyday choices can make a big difference when we act together across the Trust. Whether it is reducing waste, using time and resources more efficiently, or avoiding unnecessary steps, these actions add up." 

Spending smarter does not always mean stopping things. It can mean ordering only what we need, reducing waste, using equipment and supplies more efficiently, avoiding duplication, and making better use of our time. By focusing on what makes the biggest difference, we can make sure resources are available for patient care, staffing and essential services. 

Any changes we make will always be safe, clinically led and in line with our One Culture of Care. 

Good ideas can come from anywhere. If something feels wasteful or unnecessary, raising it is the right thing to do. Improving how we spend is a shared responsibility, and your insight is valuable.

Spending Smarter Together sits alongside the excellent care we already provide. By working together and making thoughtful decisions about how we use our resources, we can protect our services, support our colleagues and continue delivering for our communities.

For further information, or if you have a cost-saving idea you would like to explore, you can contact your divisional finance team.