The Western Health and Social Care Trust met in Enniskillen recently where the chairman, Gerard Guckian noted that it had completed the 2007/08 financial year in a balanced financial position. He stated that the Trust was committed to delivering high quality health and social care to the 290,000 people living in the Western area within a total budget of just over £430 million.

Reporting on its end-of-year financial position, Lesley Mitchell, the Trust's Director of Finance recalled that the Trust had started out in April last year in an extremely challenging position with a £14.9 million deficit to deliver services.

"We moved quickly to develop a contingency plan to ensure it completed the year within budget, and I am pleased to report that we have achieved this position.", she added.

Mr Guckian, commended the efforts of all staff, describing their performance as, 'truly remarkable'. He went on: "We have not only achieved a balanced financial position but we have also delivered a wide range of service improvements. But, in recognising this performance, we must also look towards the incoming year".

He promised that the Western Trust would continue to keep high quality patient and client care at the core of service delivery, with a focus on delivering better outcomes and improving the patient and client experience.

A spokeswoman told the 'Herald' that the Trust would be continuing with its contingency measures to enable it to balance its books for the current financial year, ending March 31st next. "We will also develop what is known as a 'recovery plan' which enables us to agree ways of resolving its financial pressures. The recovery plan is expected to be presented to Trust Board in August 2008".