CASH-STRAPPED health chiefs facing a debt of £24 million should be given longer to pay it back, according to MPs.

York MP Hugh Bayley and Selby MP John Grogan have both spoken out about the huge debt crisis facing Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) - the body responsible for providing and commissioning health services in the area.

Bosses from the trust have already warned uncomfortable cost-cutting measures lie ahead, with jobs potentially under threat.

The trust faces having to save millions to bring it back into financial balance by 2007 - but Mr Bayley said he had appealed in the House of Commons for more "breathing space" to repay the rest of the debt. Not allowing this could have a "catastrophic" effect on the local health service, he said.

He told the House of Commons: "The real problem that we face in Selby and York is that under the Government's financial rules, the PCT does not only need to reduce expenditure in the forthcoming year by £21.5 million to bring its budget into balance.

"It will be required to make savings of about £45 million, first to break even, and secondly to repay last year's £23.5 million overspend. If a £45 million cut were actually required to be made in Selby and York, the results would be catastrophic, as it would mean a cut of some 15 per cent in expenditure.

"We could be left with little more than an emergency service. I ask the Government to give Selby and York PCT some additional time to repay the accumulated deficit. I am not asking for a blank cheque."

Mr Bayley said he had now written to Health Minister Jane Kennedy to ask whether Selby and York PCT could be one of the NHS bodies to be given more time to bring its budget into balance, after she hinted it could take extra months for those with very large debts.

Mr Grogan said: "Selby and York PCT will have to take steps in the next financial year to balance their books.

"However, I am arguing strongly to ministers and officials that it is not reasonable to ask them at the same time to pay back the deficit of £25 million from this year. If this happened there can be little doubt that all the improvements made in recent years in terms of substantial reductions in waiting lists would be lost."

Meanwhile, Ryedale MP John Greenway blasted Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget, claiming it did nothing to help ease the burden on the PCT.

"It just didn't address what we need to meet the problems. Locally, in York and North Yorkshire, the PCT is in deficit and people can't get a dentist but there was no mention in the budget."

Penny Jones, acting chief executive of Selby and York PCT, said: "The PCT is currently working on the development of an achievable financial recovery plan.

"PCTs are required to both achieve financial balance and also repay accumulated debt within the financial year 2006-07. There has however been some suggestion that those organisations with significant deficits may be allowed more time. The PCT will be exploring this opportunity with the Strategic Health Authority."

Updated: 09:28 Saturday, March 25, 2006