BURNLEY, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust is facing a financial overspend of £1.5m this year.

The startling figures released this week show that since July the Trust has built up a prescribing deficit of £728,000 and if spending continues at its current rate it will climb to £1.5m.

Formed earlier this year, the Trust is responsible for GPs in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale and with community nurses commissions services for local communities.

Burnley's MP Peter Pike, has spoken to members of the Trust about their financial bearings.

He said: "We had a discussion about two or three things and one of them was their financial position."

Mr Pike revealed that the areas' well publicised drug problems are a drain on the resources of the Primary Care Trust.

"I know that one of the big problems is drugs and that we have a higher than average budget for drugs. That is one of the issues that must be addressed. I think they recognise that and I am sure they feel that these problems are not insurmountable."

Members of the board are looking at ways to offset the loss. The measures could include dipping into their own cash reserves.

The Trust has put their current cash crisis down to dental services' staffing levels, high vacancy rates and the loss of a large contract in the Learning Disabilities division.

Chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council, a patients watchdog Don Pacey, sits on the board as an observer.

He said: "It is something that needs watching. You have two problems with this. You are talking about amounts of money which are absolutely horrendous.

"They have got to make sure they stick to parameters that have been put down."

The financial report is set to be discussed at a meeting of the Trust's board later this week.

No one at the Trust was available for comment yesterday.