Health service finances in Dumfries and Galloway are so tight there is “no or very limited flexibility” to tackle any new problems.
And finance director Katy Kerr has warned: “There is greater risk in our financial position than I have ever seen before.”
Members of NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s board were provided with an update on the financial situation at Monday’s meeting.
The health board needs to make £18.3 million of savings, which Ms Kerr’s report said she felt it would be possible to deliver.
Those savings would still result in an overspend of £33 million – but with the Scottish Government capping the brokerage support it provides at £22 million, it would mean an £11 million gap.
And that figure looks set to hit £13 million as Ms Kerr warned that “external pressures” meant the overspend was set to hit £35.5 million.
Discussions with the Scottish Government have provided a reassurance that everything was being done to mitigate pressures and there was no intention to move the health board to the third level of the five stage intervention framework.
But Ms Kerr warned: “There is greater risk in our financial position than I have ever seen before.
“The level of risk in our position is so significant.
“There is literally no or very limited flexibility to manage any additional pressures.”
NHS Dumfries and Galloway chief executive thanked staff for their hard work in trying to hit the savings target.
She said: “Delivery of 18.3 millions of savings goes way beyond anything NHS Dumfries and Galloway has ever delivered in the past.
“And even with that scale of saving we’re not going to get anywhere near that brokerage cap.”