The mental health trust that serves Brighton and Hove has just agreed cuts of £14 million for the coming year.
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust today adopted a “business plan” to cope with what it said would be “a very tough economic climate over the next two years”.
The trust, which has a budget of £224 million for 2011-12 and 4,500 staff, provides specialist mental health, learning disability and substance misuse treatment.
It runs Millview Hospital and Nevill Hospital in Nevill Road, Hove, and Aldrington Hospital in New Church Road, Hove.
It also has facilities in Buckingham Road, Brighton, and at Brighton General Hospital in Elm Grove, among others.
Sue Morris, acting chief executive, said: “We are under no illusion that we are entering a very challenging financial and business climate.
“But far from seeing this negatively, we see it as an opportunity.
“Setting ourselves challenging targets will help us to reap rewards for clinical outcomes and quality.
“Sussex Partnership is already successfully winning new contracts under competitive tenders and this business plan will underpin our focus on patient safety, the reduction of risk and improving people’s experience of our services.
“We are rapidly establishing a reputation as a market leader in a variety of specialist sectors including in secure and forensic and in children’s mental health services.
“This new financial year will be a tough one but also a year of significant opportunity.”
