A FINANCIAL troubleshooter brought in by a debt-ridden hospital trust says it needs to save £12.5m this year.

At the same time, a new report says the hospital has not made sufficient progress in cutting hospital acquired infections.

Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust appointed Anthony Sumara as its acting chief executive to replace interim chief executive Ian Gibson on June 19.

Mr Sumara became turnaround director for NHS London in February in recognition of his skills and experience in helping failing NHS organisations.

He will continue in this troubleshooter role alongside his position as chief executive at Bromley.

Mr Sumara said: "Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust needs to save £12.5m this year.

"Difficult decisions will have to be taken, but the overriding principles will remain unchanged.

"Any decisions taken will aim to ensure safe clinical services and good patient care and keep any impact on staff to a minimum.

"I intend to work at the trust to build on the cost improvement work already started and identify further action to be taken to develop and deliver modern effective healthcare."

Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust lost £7m in the past financial year.

The trust has a historic debt of £87m, which it says is due in part to the legacy of the private finance initiative which paid for the building of the Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough.

Prior to becoming turnaround director, Mr Sumara was chief executive at the Hillingdon Primary Care Trust in north west London, where he reduced spending losses of £33.5m to an actual figure of £11m.

Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust chairman Huw Alderman said: "Bromley Hospitals faces significant financial challenges and it is essential we strengthen the management action already in place in order to address them.

"I welcome NHS London's willingness to release Anthony Sumara to assist in our turnaround process.

"Mr Sumara has substantial experience in turning around financially-challenged NHS organisations.

"He will be working with colleagues in the south east London sector to explore areas where clinical collaboration would make sense."

Mr Alderman added: "The trust appreciates greatly the efforts of Ian Gibson, who has acted as interim chief executive since the beginning of the year."

Mr Gibson will continue to be part of the trust's management team but his exact role has not been decided.

The trust also has problems with hygiene standards, as revealed in the Healthcare Commission's annual health check of English NHS trusts which was published on Monday.

It has not made sufficient progress in cutting hospital acquired infections but did meet the standard for decontamination of equipment and general cleanliness.

A trust spokesman said: "Action to reduce hospital acquired infection remains a priority for 2007/8. It is one of the workstreams of the Bromley Care Guarantee, a key corporate objective for the trust."

The latest standards for assessment of hospital hygiene were introduced last October Results of the annual check showed the Bromley Primary Care Trust and Oxleas Mental Health Trust complied with all standards.

Trusts across England had to declare progress on 24 healthcare standards, including the three which make up the hygiene code.

The system has replaced the old star ratings system.