NHS Borders’ chairwoman and chief executive have warned against complacency following the news that the health board is showing ‘financial progress’.

Last week, it was revealed that NHS Borders has been moved down to Stage 3 of the Scottish Government’s performance escalation framework.

Published on June 10, NHS Borders is one of six health boards who are currently at Stage 3 or above within the framework.

The region’s health board had previously been in Stage 4 of the framework for “financial management and position” but has now been moved down.

NHS Borders will receive “tailored support” in this stage, the government website states.

In a joint statement, NHS Borders’ chairwoman, Karen Hamilton, and chief executive, Ralph Roberts, said: “As part of their normal review process, the Scottish Government have recognised the progress that has been made in NHS Borders over the last 2 years and reduced our escalation levels to:

Stage 2 for Governance, leadership & culture

Stage 3 for Financial position and financial management

“This reflects the hard work of staff across the organisation and the board is grateful for that work and commitment.

“However, we should not be complacent, particularly in relation to finance where there remains considerable work to be done in order to achieve financial sustainability and we need to continue to show progress.

“We acknowledge that this work will be challenging especially as we continue to deal with the impact that the pandemic has had, and continues to have, on our services.

“We welcome the tailored support package which will be on-going from Scottish Government as they provide on-going support and scrutiny.

“On behalf of the board we would like to thank our staff for their sustained hard work and dedication which has been recognised in this decision.”

A report produced by Audit Scotland for 2019/20 stated that NHS Borders was facing a struggle to become ‘financially balanced’, with the health board requiring £8.3 million in “brokerage” from the Scottish Government “in order to balance its revenue budget” for the financial year ending March 31, 2020.

In response to the report, NHS Borders said that “financial plans for 2021/22 and beyond are currently being prepared and this will include assessment of the additional costs and potential opportunities arising from the impact of the pandemic on the NHS in Scotland”.

According to the government website, Stage 3 for NHS Borders means it is “considered to require a higher level of support and oversight from Scottish Government and other senior external support”.

Stage 3 means that a formal recovery plan will be agreed with the Scottish Government, with relevant government directors “engaged with CEO and top team”.

The other health boards in Stage 3 are: NHS Ayrshire & Arran (financial management and position); NHS Highland (financial management and position, governance leadership and culture, mental health performance); NHS Lothian (mental health performance); and NHS Tayside (mental health performance).

Meanwhile, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is in Stage 4 due to “QEUH & RHC (Infection control and related issues)”.

The government website states: “The decision to move a board to Stage 3 is made by the Health and Social Care Management Board (HSCMB) which may be prompted by awareness of a known weakness or the identification of an increasing level of risk in relation to a particular board. In relation to Stage 4, the decision sits with the DG Health and Social Care, where consideration of the board’s position within the escalation framework would normally be prompted by a board failing to deliver on the recovery actions agreed at Stage 3 or the identification of significant weaknesses considered to pose an acute risk to financial sustainability, reputation, governance, quality of care or patient safety.”