A SPECIAL meeting of health bosses has been called to review urgent measures aimed at tackling an almost £500,000 deficit in Burnley Health Trust coffers.

Trust chairman Brian Foster said the meeting on August 25 was a necessity to allow directors the chance to discuss cost-cutting measures before the board's AGM.

A report by finance director David Meakin said the Trust was facing a £440,300 overspend just three months into the new financial year and the situation was worsening.

He told the board yesterday: "It is very disappointing but I think the situation has started early enough in the year for us to identify the issues and start tackling them now."

Mr Meakin warned the cash predictions of each of the Trust's directorates were not sustainable based on what happened to spending last month alone.

Among the departments overspending were surgical and medical specialities, mental health, community services and diagnostic services and much of the extra cost was down to the need to take on extra agency staff to meet demand.

An in-depth review and "risk assessment" of each department's spending plan will be carried out to see where savings can be made in order to balance the books by the end of the financial year.

Mr Meakin said it was vital the assessments go ahead as soon as possible.

"It is still important that these budgets are brought back into balance in order that we can have confidence in moving ahead with our business plan," he said.

The annual general meeting, which was to have been held on August 25, was moved to September 8.

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