A STARK choice between patient care and balancing the books faces hospital bosses in Burnley as latest figures reveal the health trust is plunging deeper into the red.

The dilemma was spelled out today by finance director David Meakin who said Burnley Health Trust was facing a deficit for the first time since its formation in 1992.

A report to Wednesday's meeting of the trust board shows overspending of £838,000 in the first five months of the financial year - £148,000 up on the figure at the previous month end.

And even with a cost-saving action plan in force, the trust is heading for a £500,000 deficit by March 31.

Mr Meakin said East Lancashire Health Authority, which held the purse strings for hospital and community care funding, had been informed of the position which would worsen if no funding was received to cope with extra work expected during the winter months.

Last month the finance chief warned that to expect to balance books and to meet Government waiting list targets was unrealistic.

His latest report states: "We now as a Trust Board must face the decision whether to implement controls to achieve a financial balance which will undoubtedly increase waiting lists and waiting times or to achieve waiting lists and waiting times targets and fail to deliver a financial balance."

Mr Meakin adds: "This can only be debated realistically when we have had the debate with East Lancashire Health Authority."

Trust chairman Brian Foster has already said that if a decision must be made, he would opt to continue to provide care and fail to balance the books, adding he could be sacked for doing so.

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