EMERGENCY teams are to tackle the mounting cash crisis facing NHS chiefs.

The announcement came as Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt "named and shamed" Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) as one of 18 NHS organisations across the country which need direct and "urgent intervention".

Now teams of Government financial experts will be drafted in to help PCT bosses as part of the battle to bring health service deficits under control.

The PCT was one of 62 NHS trusts to be assessed after they forecast overspend of more than £5 million. It is expected to have a deficit of £10 million this year.

Acting financial director Sheenagh Powell said: "We are looking at how the 'turnaround team' can help us and looking forward to that because there is an awful lot of work to be done.

"We've been asked where we think they would be most able to help the organisation and we hope to get them in place as soon as possible."

Earlier this month, the Evening Press revealed there would be a raft of health cuts at the trust in its battle to balance the books - including dealing with some outpatients by email and telephone, reducing emergency admissions and cutting the number of beds at Selby War Memorial Hospital.

York MP Hugh Bayley was meeting bosses at North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority today to make sure this will not mean more cuts for NHS patients.

He said: "I will be seeking reassurance that they will give Selby and York the support that they need and that they will be able to bring the budget back into balance without putting patient care at risk."

The PCT's acting chief executive, Penny Jones, welcomed the support and said she looked forward to working with the team to develop a financial recovery plan.

"This plan must be achievable, realistic and focus on delivering a financially acceptable position whilst continuing to provide high quality and safe services," she said. "This process is being conducted alongside service redesign to ensure the care we offer meets the needs of our local population."

The process is expected to take at least 18 months.

Selby MP John Grogan also welcomed news of the extra support.

He said: "The task for the management of Selby and York PCT is to find ways of balancing the books without affecting essential services. If a bit of outside help can help them to do that, that cannot be a bad thing."

Earlier this week, PCT bosses defended further delays to a planned revamp at Selby War Memorial Hospital. The £23.6 million redevelopment was originally due to begin in March 2005, but a series of delays have pushed the start date back.

A similar turnaround team began work at the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT headquarters in Malton yesterday, and will be there for one week.

Director of finance Adrian Brookes said he expected to receive a report from them in early February.

In December, the Evening Press reported that the PCT expected to be "on the Government's radar" to receive a turnaround team. It is not among the 18 trusts deemed to be most at risk, but the Government targeted it for "additional expertise to support financial turnaround" because of its £5.2 million deficit.

Hospital meets its targets despite PCT's cash problems

York Hospital has reached a "major milestone" in achieving tough NHS targets - despite the severe cash problems facing the Primary Care Trust.

The hospital's chief executive, Jim Easton, said it would be "working in partnership" with the PCT to address its debt issue.

In a report to the trust's board, which met yesterday, he said all of the stringent targets in the NHS plan were reached in December last year. That meant none of the hospital's outpatients - those waiting to see a specialist - were waiting more than 13 weeks for their appointment. And no in-patient or day case had to wait more than six months for their operation.

Mr Easton said: "This is continuing good news for patients. These are the shortest times in the NHS's history.

"We're going to go on and move to even shorter waiting times through the next few years. It has been delivered through tremendous commitment from staff at York Hospital."

The targets also included one for patients attending the hospital's accident and emergency department, of whom 98 per cent were seen, treated or admitted within four hours.

Mr Easton said the new waiting times were a "significant reduction" from the previous year.

But in his report he said Selby and York PCT was facing a "very significant financial challenge".

The chief executive's report also gave board members an update on the hospital's long-running car park plans.

Earlier this month, the Evening Press reported the multi-storey park was now not expected to be completed until next spring.

The project had been delayed to accommodate design changes so it would fit in with any new hospital buildings.

Board members were told trust architects and a newly appointed contractor had developed a reconfigured design, and the new option would be included in a contract ready for signature at the end of next month.

Work offsite was expected to begin shortly after that, with on-site building due to begin in May - and completed early next year.

Greg Dyke, York University chancellor and former director general of the BBC, is to formally open a £4.3million new unit at the hospital tomorrow. The new Head and Neck outpatient building, which opened in November, houses five hospital specialities under one roof and has been funded with NHS Modernisation Agency funds, and York Hospitals NHS Trust.

Updated: 09:53 Thursday, January 26, 2006