York Hospital bosses have been told to stop cutting waiting times for patients because of a cash crisis in the local NHS.

The cash-strapped Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) has asked York Hospital not to treat any non-urgent inpatient or day cases - such as hip or knee replacements - earlier than the six-month standard wait.

Hospital chief executive Jim Easton said it was "disappointing" and "frustrating" when staff had been striving to reduce waiting times and meet national targets.

But PCT bosses said the move was necessary to help claw back the £9.4million deficit plaguing the organisation. Patients who already have dates for treatment will not be affected, but a significant number will find themselves waiting longer than anticipated.

On top of this, the hospital has been dealt a further blow, as it anticipates losing hundreds of thousands of pounds of expected PCT funding by the end of the year - which could put the hospital under more pressure this winter.

In another cash-saving move, the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has announced the hospital will temporarily no longer be paid on the basis of the number of patients it treats. Instead, a separate amount will be determined by the SHA.

Mr Easton said that under these circumstances, an increase in emergency work throughout the winter would put "significant" financial pressure on the hospital.

He said: "If we continue to see emergency work growing then it would add significantly to the financial pressure facing the trust.

"At present we believe we could remain financial stability allowing for some growth of work in the system, but a major increase in activity will be bound to put more financial pressure on this hospital."

Referring to the waiting times issue, he said: "Yes, there will be patients who would have been treated more quickly who will have to wait a little longer for their operation.

"There are some areas across the board where there is only a two to three-month wait, but that compares to a year ago where people were waiting a year."

Talks are ongoing between the hospital and the PCT to work out who will be affected and any exceptions to the rule. It is not yet known how much cash will be saved.

PCT acting chief executive Penny Jones said a financial recovery plan was being developed.

She said: "We have asked the hospital trusts to take steps to ensure that new patients with non-urgent conditions being referred are treated within the six-month target, but not more quickly. Urgent cases will, of course, continue to be seen much more rapidly."

An SHA spokeswoman said a significant increase in the number of patients treated had put considerable pressure on resources.

Meanwhile, a polio sufferer who once faced lengthy waits in York branded the PCTs decision "unfair".

Gill Thompson, who is paralysed in her left leg, was told she would have to wait two years for an outpatient appointment at York Hospital.

She has since been referred to plastic and vascular surgeons in Leeds, but is still waiting for a scan and an operation date.

She said it had been torturous waiting for hospital appointments.

"If you're in a lot of pain then a six-month wait is a long wait," she said.

"It's really unfair that when York Hospital can do it to be told they can't do it because of lack of money.

"It doesn't seem right; it's a quality of life issue."

Mother-of-two Amanda Castle, from York, who has been waiting ten months for a hernia operation scheduled to take place later this week, said it was "ridiculous."

"It's daft. Six months, even a few months, is a long time when you're doubled up in pain.

"I've lost a lot of weight while I've been waiting for my operation because it's painful to eat. It's not healthy to be waiting."

Updated: 09:30 Wednesday, November 30, 2005