THE NHS budget in York is facing yet more cuts, leaving basic services under threat unless emergency funding is found, a councillor has claimed.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Chris Cullwick said he understood the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had been placed in a “capped expenditure process’ by NHS England.

He claimed this move could leave the CCG, which covers an area including York, Selby, Tadcaster, Easingwold and parts of East Yorkshire including Pocklington, unable to meet its requirements under the NHS constitution, such as minimum waiting times.

Cllr Cullwick, vice chair of City of York Council’s health scrutiny committee, raised concerns about the funding crisis at a health and wellbeing board meeting yesterday.

He said he had written to the health secretary to ask for urgent consideration to be given to extra NHS funding in York to prevent local services becoming unviable.

“Unless emergency funding is found, then basic services will be under threat,” he said. “If NHS spending in York is reduced yet further, as we fear may be the case, then it is hard to see how the CCG will be able to meet its obligations under the NHS constitution, such as 18-week maximum waiting times and two-week maximum waiting times for cancer.”

Phil Mettam, CCG accountable officer, said the capped expenditure process had been ordered because NHS England had not accepted the CCG’s plans because of increased costs.

It meant the CCG, its Scarborough and Ryedale counterpart, and the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, had to work together on a financial plan for 2017/18 which contained costs.

He said public engagement, including roadshows, was planned but this had been delayed because of the general election.

The CCG is predicted to face a £44.1 million deficit this year and £53.9 million by 2018/19. The Press has reported previously it intends to cut £50 million in areas including elective orthopaedics and high-cost drugs, and seriously ill people could be given care placements away from York, in less expensive areas.