Hospital chiefs 'no' to closures

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, which oversees Kidderminster Hospital, has also reported no delays in operations to help them balance the books.

They expect to break even by the end of the month but warned ongoing efficiencies and cost-cutting measures would be needed to ensure no slippage next year.

Cost-cutting measures have been restricted to a major review of working practices and more stringent use of telephones and machinery which is now switched off when not in use.

More than seven in 10 primary care trusts across the country are claimed to be restricting access to treatments, half delaying operations and 61 per cent closing wards. Many acute, primary care and mental health trusts are operating recruitment freezes, while 47 per cent have made or intend to make redundancies.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has promised the NHS will achieve financial balance this year.

Government figures published last month showed that more than one in three hospitals and primary care trusts are still expected to record a deficit.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Nobody who needs urgent or emergency treatment is affected.

"Any redundancies, though unfortunate, need to be seen in context of a total NHS workforce of 1.36 million – 300,000 extra staff compared to 1997."