HOSPITAL chiefs in Burnley plan to continue their improved service to patient care, but have admitted they need to tighten their belts as they head towards the end of the financial year with a £500,000 deficit.

Members of the Burnley Health Trust discussed whether to implement controls to achieve a financial balance at the risk of increasing waiting lists and waiting times for patients.

After consulting the East Lancashire Health Authority over the need for extra hospital funding to cope with the winter months, they were told that the authority were not able to release extra cash and the board decided that patient care should not suffer. Chairman Brian Foster, said: "We are not going to sit back and say there's nothing we can do about the financial situation, but if we continue to achieve targets for waiting lists and times, we have almost acknowledged there will be a financial cost to the trust.

"I am not saying we will go for broke and have a financial deficit whatever happens. We will do the best we can with the money available and will have to look at the situation and make a decision on it."

A report put together by finance director David Meakin, showed that even with a Recovery Plan, which was expected to have an outcome deficit of £221,000, the trust would still be heading for a £500,000 deficit by March 31.

Mr Meakin said: "We have a very robust plan in place for the new millennium period and winter pressure period, between November and March. "There will be additional beds for the new millennium, additional staffing and more doctors on duty during key periods. All this is very good news, but it is all adding to the financial burden placed on the trust.

"We can be pleased with the waiting lists and patient activity, but we still have the responsibility as a board to make best use of the resources we have and try to minimize spending this year.

"We are not going to solve the problem immediately. There needs to be appropriate planning and monitoring. We are only deferring the problem if we do nothing and carry it forward to next year."

Non-executive director Coun Frank Clifford, expressed his concern. He said: "If the recovery plan was a plan put in by a consultant to help a patient to recover the undertaker would be waiting in the wings to bury the patient.

He added: "The whole thing is a mess. I believe there is still an opportunity to squeeze costs on the management side without infringing on patient care."

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