A HEALTH chief has warned Burnley hospitals may need extra Government cash help if they are to meet their waiting list targets for the year.

Health Trust finance director David Meakin says the hospitals and community care group currently has 5,135 patients waiting for treatment, compared with the present target of 4,756.

In a report to the trust board Mr Meakin says there has been a small improvement over the past month.

"Currently, not all waiting list initiatives have started and plans are in place to ensure that the year end target of 4,620 patients is achieved."

But he warns that additional resources may be needed.

"Additional theatre sessions are currently in place each Saturday morning at Burnley General Hospital and every other Saturday morning at Rossendale Hospital." His report shows trust care staff are working harder than ever to meet increasing demand.

He says inpatients and day cases for the trust as a whole were 6.2 per cent up in the first quarter of the year compared with last year, with 270 more (3.5 per cent) emergency admissions in the quarter.

Outpatient activity for the three month period to June 30 was 4.6 per cent higher than 1998.

Mr Meakin is calling for special measures to deal with spiralling current account deficits, with spending running £460,000 over budget for the trust over the three-month period.

He has called for a full review of each service directorate following a big £200,000 loss in June alone.

He says robust action is needed to bring the trust back into line financially and is suggesting a special board meeting to consider the "urgent" action which may be necessary.

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