BOSSES have vowed to prioritise patient care after it emerged that a probe into one of the county’s biggest health providers’ finances was closed.

Health regulator Monitor launched an investigation into Oxford Health Foundation Trust’s accounts in July after it emerged it lost £3.7m during the financial year 2014 to 2015.

But the regulator announced it had closed the investigation after the trust identified ways to save £5m this year and more in 2016.

Oxford Health chief executive Stuart Bell CBE welcomed Monitor’s decision to close the inquiry because it was satisfied with the trust’s financial plans and governance controls to improve financial sustainability.

He said: “We are glad that Monitor agrees that we are doing the right things and supports our financial plans.

“Our top priority remains providing care to the people we serve and we’re pleased that we’re able to help people live longer and better.”

Oxford Health runs mental health services, community hospitals and community nurses across the county including the Warneford Hospital in Headington.

It identified using its assets better, improving its nurse staffing plans and cutting down on agency workers as ways to cut its deficit.

The plan aims to cut the forecast deficit for the end of this financial year from £5.4m to £1.8m, with land sales in Buckinghamshire putting the trust on target to hit this target.

Monitor revealed in October that the country’s foundation trusts had recorded a collective deficit of £445m between the start of April and the end of June.