LONDON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A British Medical Association survey found 385 of 530 primary care, acute, mental health and community National Health Service trusts face deficits.
Almost 40 percent of medical directors admitted they intended to introduce measures such as closing beds and wards, cutting staff, freezing hiring and performing fewer operations, reported the Daily Telegraph Saturday.
Last week, the British Department of Health reported the medical services face deficits totaling $1.2 billion -- according to the audited accounts for 2004-05 -- despite record funding by the government.
"It is hard to understand why, at a time when the government has invested unprecedented funding in the health service, trusts may have to lay off staff and close wards," said Dr. Paul Miller, the chairman of the BMA's consultants' committee.
The NHS budget for the current financial year is $134 billion, more than double the $62 billion in 1997-98, the Telegraph said.
