Region's trusts face cash crisis

North West trusts have a collective deficit of more than £83m

The North West's health services are among the worst hit by the current financial crisis in the NHS, facing a collective deficit of more than £86m.

The region's biggest debt problems lie in Cheshire, where eight hospital trusts and Primary Care Trusts have run up debts totalling £44m.

Topping the list of trusts in the red is Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHSA Trust, in Merseyside, which has a current budget deficit of £15m.

When asked what measures were being put in place to balance the books, it said it was looking into ways of working more efficiently.

"We are looking into best practices to change the way that we work, how things can be done to improve the situation for patients and to save us money at the same time," a spokesman said.

NHS Trusts with a debt of more than £5m Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust - £15m Cheshire West PCT - £14.9m East Cheshire NHS Trust - £13m Wirral Hospitals NHS Trust - £6.5m

Also in trouble is Cheshire West Primary Care Trust (PCT), which has an overall financial deficit of £14.9m.

It said it has a recovery plan in place, which included reducing unnecessary admissions to hospitals, cutting the amount spent on prescription medicines, and only filling vacancies for staff concerned with frontline care.

Staying in the county, East Cheshire NHS Trust also has a large deficit of £13m, and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust falls in the top five trusts in debt with a deficit of £5.7m.

Wirral Hospitals NHS Trust currently has a deficit of £6.5m, but unlike the other trusts it said "no reduction in the availability of any services has been made as a result of the plan.

"Over the course of the year more patients will be treated within the trust than in previous years," a spokesman added.

NHS trusts with a surplus of cash Central Liverpool PCT - £3m surplus Countess of Chester Hospital Foundation NHS Trust - £83,000 surplus North Liverpool PCT - £500,000 surplus Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust - £154,000 surplus

But it is not all bad news for the NHS in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire. Some trusts are shaping up to the year end with a financial surplus.

A spokesman for Central Liverpool PCT told the BBC it has a £3m surplus. North Liverpool PCT also has a surplus of £500,000.

The Countess of Chester Hospital Foundation NHS Trust currently has a £83,000 surplus, and Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust also reported being in the black.

Many health trusts in the North West of England said they were breaking even financially, with all figures in balance.