BMJ Open 2019;9:e021854. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021854
- A longitudinal, observational study in 149 acute NHS trusts in England between the financial years 2011 and 2016 correlated a range of clinical outcomes (readmissions, inpatient satisfaction score and the following process measures: emergency department (A&E) waiting time targets, cancer referral and treatment targets and delayed transfers of care) with financial performance.
- The analysis found that operating margins in English NHS trusts progressively worsened during 2011–2016, and this change was associated with poorer performance on several process measures but not with hospital readmissions or inpatient satisfaction. Significant variation exists between the best and worst financially performing Trusts.
