Lancashire NHS hospital debts nearly double to £83m

Experts say the increasing costs are partly due to rising care demands

The total debt of Lancashire's NHS hospitals nearly doubled in the last financial year, BBC research has found.

In 2014-15, they were collectively £43m in the red but by April 2016, this had increased to £83m.

Experts blame rising care demands and increased staffing levels introduced since a 2013 inquiry criticised patient care at Stafford Hospital.

The Department of Health said it was investing an extra £10bn per year in the NHS in England by 2020.

Professor Ruth Boaden, of Alliance Manchester Business School, said there is a need to "look at the pattern of demand across the whole area - not just in Chorley but in Preston and Wigan and Bolton and everywhere - and actually say: 'Is there enough demand for A&E services in all those areas for us to be able to afford to put four A&E departments there?'

"If not, then I'm sorry people of Chorley - you will have to lose your A&E department... we can't afford that nor is it safe to do that."

Chorley Hospital's A&E unit was shut and downgraded to an urgent care centre in April, with the closure later extended until 2017 due to staffing issues.

'Balancing the books'

Professor Naomi Chambers, also from Alliance Manchester Business School, said there was a "challenge around balancing the books and ensuring safe care".

She explained: "The solution is to have an honest conversation with the public about whether we want to increase the level of funding to the NHS to the average in Europe."

About 10% of the UK's Gross Domestic Product is spent on healthcare - compared to 11% and 17% in Germany and the United States respectively.

Prof Chambers says there is evidence of "an appetite to increase levels of tax" providing the money raised goes on the NHS.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Healthcare spending as a proportion of GDP is now above the OECD average and the NHS has a strong plan to balance the books, which we're supporting by helping hospitals to become more efficient, improve productivity and reduce the use of expensive agency staff."

But Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders said: "Six years of underfunding the NHS and slashing social care budgets has pushed the health service to the brink of a full-scale crisis and the Tories remain in a state of complete denial."

Analysis: Richard Stead, BBC News

In the next few years, NHS Trusts will need to ask if we can afford - and is it safe - for local hospitals to do everything?

In many cases, the answer to that question will be No.

That will mean things like fewer, more specialised units for A&E, stroke, and orthopaedic patients.

The closure of local units may be unpopular - but the health service has made significant savings before.

Back in the 1950s, budgets were under similar pressure. That led to charges being introduced for spectacles, dental care and prescriptions.

What all this boils down to is the fundamental question of whether we - as a country - spend enough on health.

Should we raise taxes and cut spending elsewhere, or introduce charges for more services?

These are the dilemmas facing our politicians.