The trust which runs Gloucestershire's main hospitals has been removed from financial measures just months after it found to another multi-millions pound hole in its accounts.

News broke internally yesterday evening when the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust trust's senior figures told staff - praising them for making the dramatic escape possible.

Such was the excitement that Deborah Lee, the trust's chief executive officer, and Peter Lachecki, the chairman, even described the moment as "a significant achievement in our Journey To Outstanding".

NHS Improvement, the trust's regulator, said the trust still had "more to do", but that it was confident it would "work towards financial balance".

Only in May it was revealed the trust has mistakenly landed itself another £14 million of debt, which had already risen from £18m to £32m in the financial year up to April 2018.

The new additional black hole was blamed on a failure of a computerised patient record system InterSystems, which provided the TrakCare system.

In July last year the trust blamed a breakdown of leadership on a £27m black hole which emerged in 2016.

All of which came as a surprise as the trust was at the time under the impression it had achieved a healthy surplus.

At the time the trust blamed its former finance director, Helen Simpson, for not keeping its board informed, and admitted incorrect accounting adjustments which presented its accounts more favourably.

After two years of grip and a willingness to do things differently, I am thrilled that staff have been rewarded with the news today that the Trust has been removed from Financial Special Measures - evidence that good financial management and high quality care can go hand in hand.

— Deborah Lee (@Deborah62655228) November 14, 2018

In last night's letter to staff Ms Lee and Mr Lachecki said: "The trust board would like to thank all of you for the personal contributions that you have made in helping us to embed a culture of robust financial management whilst continuing to deliver increasingly high quality and sustainable services. It has been challenging, and at times difficult journey for us."

It added: "We believe the decision is a huge vote of confidence in the trust and whilst we still have more to accomplish is a really positive milestone which positions us well for the delivery of our exciting vision for the future of Gloucestershire Hospitals."

Great news- congratulations. Reflects phenomenal hard work by everyone who works for the Trust

— Gill Morgan (@MorganSagartia) November 15, 2018

The trust, which runs Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital and services at Stroud Maternity Unit.

NHS Improvement placed the Trust in FSM for financial reasons in October 2016 following an unexpected and significant deterioration in its finances after concerns were raised by the newly appointed chief executive officer.

Stephen Hay, deputy chief executive and executive director of regulation, NHS Improvement, said: "I congratulate Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for their hard work over the past two years, which has now enabled us to remove them from being in special measures for finance.

"This reflects the hard work of all staff - from board level right through to the front line clinical staff and support teams - to really address the underlying financial issues of the organisation.

"There is still more to do, but we are confident the trust has the capability to continue to deliver its plan and work towards financial balance, as well as delivering high quality care for local patients."

Well done-the Trust now has to communicate in a totally transparent way

— Ian Mean (@BlueMeanie10) November 15, 2018