NHS Fife chiefs have admitted they are not confident of meeting this year’s financial challenge, despite outlining a range of cuts and service changes.
But they have pledged that patient safety will not be compromised as they continue in their efforts to find £9.4 million of savings by the end of March.
Christine McLaughlin, finance director with NHS Scotland, has been appointed to help the Fife board, which was already overspent by £4.7m by the end of July.
They are now working to a three year plan as they spend money which will realise savings in the long term.
The main problem continues to be an overspend in GP prescribing as the cost of medicines soars and the amount prescribed also rises.
The predicament has prompted Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Alex Rowley to call for a full review to ensure NHS services across the country are properly resourced.
He has also written to NHS Fife chief executive Paul Hawkins requesting a meeting with him to discuss the situation.
The Fife board has already announced a complete overhaul of its services, placing more emphasis on treating people in the community which would allow it to cut hospital beds.
Mr Rowley said more transparency was required to ensure staff were not being pushed to the limit.
“We need to know how they are making these cuts and what the impact will be in terms of patients and also in terms of staff,” he said.
“The greatest asset we have in NHS Fife is the staff who are working under immense pressure and are massively over-stretched.”
He added: “We need a proper review in Fife to find out what the health needs of the region are and if we have the capacity and the resources to meet that.
“I’ve written to the health secretary calling for that time and time again.”
In June, NHS Fife announced it must find £30.8m of savings this financial year.
After a number of efficiencies, that figure now stands at £9.4m.
Mr Hawkins said: “Do I feel confident we have an answer for all of the money? No I don’t but I don’t think it’s a one-year solution.”
Chairman Allan Burns added: “It’s a fiscal challenge over more than one year.
“One thing we have agreed as a board is we will not sacrifice patient safety.”
