MILLIONS of pounds of savings will need to be found by North Yorkshire’s health chiefs by next March if they are to balance their books.

NHS North Yorkshire and York has revealed it has a £15.425 million target to meet in the current financial year if it is to invest in health services across the region.

And the trust said it has already earmarked areas where it could save almost £10 million – which may include focusing on how admissions to accident and emergency departments at North Yorkshire hospitals are managed.

It comes only a month after NHS North Yorkshire and York announced it had finally rid itself of a massive debt – which initially topped £45 million – inherited from the region’s former health trusts, with the measures being taken to reach “financial balance” including wide-ranging and heavily-criticised cuts in services.

The organisation also says the £15.425 million figure – outlined in a report which went before its latest board meeting – could change over the next eight months, and that “high risks” exist in its ability to deliver the necessary savings.

Its director of finance, Nicholas Steele, said: “NHS North Yorkshire and York continuously manages all contracts for the provision of health care, to effectively ensure that they meet the needs of our local population.

“The trust’s financial plans, which were agreed at the beginning of the year, outlined significant investment in both primary and secondary care services.

“This resulted in an agreement to identify additional value for money savings in year of £15.425 million to achieve overall financial balance.

“Of this cost saving, £9.8 million has already been identified and includes, for example, working closely with our acute and primary care colleagues to manage emergency admissions within primary and community care.

“This £15.425 million figure could change during the course of the financial year.

“However, by closely monitoring other service areas, ensuring expenditure remains within budget and by effectively managing our contracts to deliver the saving, the trust should remain in financial balance.”

The report also said that the savings total is dependent on “all other areas of expenditure” operating as outlined in the trust’s budget.

A spokeswoman for York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “As the trust is our main commissioner, we meet regularly with them to determine how we can deliver the best care for our patients in the most effective way.”