The NHS owes around £44 million in unpaid invoices to social care providers across the Thames Valley, raising concerns about the financial stability of organisations delivering essential healthcare services.
Jane Hanna, Chair of Oxfordshire’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, has warned that the delays have created a “critical situation” for care providers, many of which are already operating on tight budgets.
In a letter to Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) Chief Executive Nick Broughton, Hanna described the growing backlog as “deeply alarming”, highlighting the pressure it is placing on care organisations across the region.
The unpaid invoices relate to Continuing Healthcare (CHC) services, which are fully funded and arranged by the NHS for people with significant ongoing health needs.
Data provided by the Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP) shows that payment problems escalated following the transition of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board into the newly formed Thames Valley ICB.
According to the figures, around 10,000 invoices remained unpaid in Oxfordshire during April. By the end of the month, the situation had worsened significantly after providers experienced difficulties accessing a national NHS payment platform.
The number of unpaid invoices in Oxfordshire rose to approximately 16,000, while the total amount owed across the Thames Valley reached £44 million.
The outstanding payments represent around 15% of the region’s Continuing Healthcare budget, with estimates suggesting it could take up to six months to clear the backlog.
The delays have sparked concern among care providers, many of whom rely on regular payments to cover staff wages, operational costs and day-to-day services.
In response, NHS Thames Valley acknowledged the issue and apologised to suppliers affected by the delays.
A spokesperson said: “We have a clear process in place, identifying any bottlenecks in the process, as well as supporting those suppliers raising critical cashflow concerns by prioritising processing where it is most needed.”
The organisation said it is actively monitoring the situation and exploring ways to accelerate payments and reduce the backlog.
“We recognise the difficulty suppliers are currently facing and the knock-on effects for their employees and would like to apologise to those affected,” the spokesperson added.
NHS officials say efforts are continuing to resolve the issue, but providers remain concerned about the financial impact while they wait for millions of pounds in overdue payments.