A HEALTH Minister has reassured local MPs that patient care will not be compromised as a result of the cash problems facing the body which oversees the NHS in the York and Selby area.

Liam Byrne also told the House of Commons that the cash-strapped Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) would be getting an £80 million Government investment over the next few years - though the body's acting head said later that some of this money was already committed to ongoing projects.

Speaking in a House of Commons debate, Mr Byrne, junior health minister, told York MP Hugh Bayley that the cash being pumped into Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) was more than "eight times the deficit that is currently being recorded".

Mr Byrne was responding after three local MPs quizzed him on the PCT's financial situation.

He said that the PCT had a deficit of £6.6 million in 2004-05.

But Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh said the projected deficit could rise to £47 million by 2007-08, and was concerned that "for every two GPs there is an administrator looking after them".

Mr Byrne said the deficit was currently "only just over four per cent of the £225 million that the PCT gets each year".

He also reassured Selby MP John Grogan that the PCT was to continue its plans to rebuild the Selby War Memorial Hospital.

Mr Byrne said: "I have reviewed the position and can confirm that plans for the Selby War Memorial hospital will press ahead and will be published at the PCT board meeting in December."

Mr Bayley said the key issue was that services to patients should not be cut as a result of the deficits. "One does not have to be a health economist, though (Mr Bayley) is one, to understand that investing another £80 million in the Selby and York PCT over the next few years amounts to eight times the deficit that is currently being recorded," Mr Byrne said.

Afterwards the PCT's acting chief executive, Penny Jones, said: "Any additional investment in local NHS services is welcome and this £80 million will take our budget from £255 million a year (2005/6) to £335 million (2007/8).

"However, this is not purely our annual growth set out by the Government. It also includes additional allocations to pay for ongoing national initiatives, such as the funding of the new GP contract and as part of our ongoing service planning and financial recovery. A significant amount of this money has already been committed.

"With this level of investment the PCT should be able to achieve financial recovery, while maintaining high levels of services for the local population.

"The PCT board is committed to moving towards financial balance as soon as possible, and the PCT is currently reviewing its financial recovery strategy to ensure it can deliver its financial obligations. Any decisions we do make will be open and honest, and the local health economy and our partners will be kept fully informed."

Updated: 09:29 Saturday, October 29, 2005