THE Royal Berkshire Hospital lost nearly £9 million last year and expects to make more than £4 million in profit during the current financial year.

The deficit was presented to members at the trust’s AGM at the hospital on Tuesday, July 19.

Craig Anderson, finance director of the trust, said: “We are all taxpayers and every man, woman, and child in Reading spends about £1,000 a year on the trust.

“The NHS is financially challenged. Some 75 to 80 per cent of trusts reported a deficit and ours was £9 million.

“We are pleased that probably a quarter of trusts met their predicted financial commitments and we were one. We said we expected to lose £9 million and we have.

“In 2015/16 we delivered £17.5 million of savings.”

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust serves more than 500,000 people, has more than 5,000 staff, and delivered 5,491 babies in the past year.

An audit of the books found the trust could still save money by improving IT systems and the management of them.

Across the last year the trust has invested more than £3 million in IT, including a £1 million investment in a new data warehouse and, through a grant from the Royal Berks Charity, free Wi-Fi for all patients.

Across the year the trust took in more money than expected but this gain was cancelled out by higher drug costs.

In the current financial year the trust is being given an extra £9.9 million from central government to help bridge administration costs as well as make more than £15 million in savings.

Investments for the current financial year include £54,000 expanding Caversham Ward, £500,000 on electrical infrastructure in South Block, and a £108,000 refurbishment of four birthing rooms funded by charities.

Attendees heard a major review of all the trust’s property, including the vacant plot at Craven Road, will report back in September.