Recommendation 33

At the time of our evidence session, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) had yet to publish its 2021–22 Annual Report and Accounts. UHL’s auditor was not able to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence upon which to form an opinion for 2019–20, and issued an adverse audit opinion for 2020–21, due to system and control weaknesses resulting in material misstatements.65 We asked the Department what oversight it had of other hospitals which may be having similar issues to UHL. The Department advised us that the NHS has a financial oversight framework that looks at financial and performance measures. The Department also advised that it has regular meetings with the NHS, at which it had not been alerted to similar concerns about any other specific trusts.66 62 NHS Property Services Limited, NHS Property Services Limited Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22, 17 February 2023 63 NHS Commissioning Board, NHS Commissioning Board Annual Report and Accounts 2021–22, HC 1011, 30 January 2023 64 NHS Commissioning Board, NHS Commissioning Board Annual Report and Accounts 2020–21, HC 1027, 3 February 2022 65 C&AG‘s Report, para 17 66 Qq 136–137 Department of Health and Social Care 2021–22 Annual Report and Accounts 17