ONE battle in the war to balance the books has been won by local health chiefs.

Bury and Rochdale Health Authority have put the brakes on their plunge into the red by making £680,000 of savings.

Last November they announced there would be a £2.85 million overspend at the end of the financial year. The authority made allowances for £1 million of this, but they were forced to agree an emergency package of measures to make up the difference.

They included delaying expensive treatment for non-urgent patients who need care at specialist hospitals outside the area. And about £120,000 of management savings also helped the budget battle.

Mr Richard Popplewell, chief executive of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, said: "It's taken a good effort all round but since October we have been able to reduce our potential overspend which means we will have a better start for the new financial year."

The health authority still needs to find around £1.16 million of savings.

This looks set to have a knock-on effect into next year with money usually used to buy services being used to balance the books.

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