DORSET County Hospital has improved its financial performance – by almost half a million pounds, although the Trust remains in deficit.

For the six months to the end of September it was £4.28million down, compared to a planned deficit of £4.77million – £498,000 better than expected.

The capital balance was £2.2million at the same time – £66,000 ahead of the year to date plan.

A report before hospital governors on November 5th says the Trust which runs the hospital, aims to deliver an income and expenditure deficit of no more than £1.3million by the end of the 2018-19 financial year next April.

Said director of finance, Rebecca King: “The financial plan requires significant savings totalling £7.613 million to be delivered in 2018/19 whilst ensuring that there is no detrimental impact on the safety and quality of services provided. The delivery of the savings target for the year remains very challenging with £0.8 million of the target unidentified at the end of the second quarter.”