CASH-STRAPPED Southend Hospital is being chased to pay a huge bill owed for doctors supplied by a recruitment agency.

Remedium Partners supplied 11 doctors at a cost believed to be in the region of £100,000, but is still waiting payment.

The firm is currently “in talks” with the hospital over the unpaid bill.

Established in 2013, Remedium Partners was created to specifically reduce agency locum spending in the NHS by placing only fixed-term and permanent doctors.

A spokesperson said: “Remedium has partnered with over 70 NHS trusts to help them recruit doctors on a permanent basis. This provides trusts with an alternative to the vast costs of temporary locum placements, allowing them to plan for the long-term staffing requirements of their patients and staff. We have worked with Southend Hospital for more than six years and helped the trust reduce agency fees. We have been engaged in ongoing discussions with Southend University Hospital NHS Trust regarding unpaid fees for 11 doctors who we have recruited on their behalf. We are positive that these discussions will be resolved swiftly.”

Southend is leading a merger with Basildon and Broomfield Hospitals designed to share services across south and mid Essex but is understood to be struggling financially.

The latest figures show the hospital has overspent on its budget and particularly on locum doctors.

A hospital whistleblower has claimed the hospital is running out of cash and is struggling to balance its books.

Louisa Cowell, director of finance at Southend Hospital said: “The trust is currently in discussions with Remedium in respect of charges for recruitment activities they have carried out on the trust’s behalf, to clarify the appropriate charge per recruitment appointment.

“Once this is resolved the trust will be happy to pay the amount rightfully due to Remedium for the work they have carried out.”

The merger and transformation plans have a £118million budget but that is not for day-to-day funding such as staffing costs.