Our budget and how we spend it

The financial performance of all NHS trusts is reviewed annually against a range of statutory duties and performance targets. SECAmb has again been successful in achieving all of the key financial duties and targets.

finance pie chart

SECAmb's total income for 2009/10 was £152.4 million; this exceeded 2008/09 income levels by £3.5 million (3.6%). The majority of this income is from one key A&E service level agreement (SLA) with the region’s Primary Care Trusts which totals £135.5 million.

The Trust also received a significant proportion of 2009/10’s income from 19 individual PTS SLAs providing non-emergency patient transport services to take patients to and from NHS facilities for treatment. These SLAs generated income totalling £10.2 million and have all been agreed with PCTs, hospital and mental health trusts throughout the South East Coast region.

The diagram above shows how the Trust spent its money during 2009/2010.

As it shows, the Trust employs over 3000 staff and this is by far the largest element of our spend; of these staff over 75% are employed directly in delivering patient care.

Vehicle costs also form a major element of the Trust’s spend, as do the consumables required to meet the needs of patients. The Trust currently operates out of 63 ambulance stations plus workshops and other staff accommodation, which also leads to significant spend.

The other costs figure includes spend on Research and Development, Training and Innovation - key for an organisation that values education and innovation as a key objective.

Other costs include:

IT costs and the implications of running a 24/7 service with the most modern, effective, up to date hardware and software support possible
Maintenance, technical and logistics support required to deliver services (this element also includes costs associated with the Trust’s support service functions)
Financing costs include depreciation, interest payable and Public Dividend payable

Following recent guidance issued by HM Treasury each month we will be publishing details of any spending on single items over £25,000 - go to Single spends over £25,000.