HEALTH Trusts in Comet country have overspent by even more money than forecast. Beds and Herts Strategic Health Authority has admitted that it looks set to end the financial year with a deficit of more than 90 million pounds. That is around 20 million po

HEALTH Trusts in Comet country have overspent by even more money than forecast.

Beds and Herts Strategic Health Authority has admitted that it looks set to end the financial year with a deficit of more than 90 million pounds.

That is around 20 million pounds more than the "control target" overspend agreed with the Department of Health.

Hertfordshire County Council's health scrutiny committee is so worried about this figure that it is hoping to meet with health secretary Patricia Hewitt to discuss its concerns.

The committee's chairman Michael Downing said members are concerned that the health services in Hertfordshire will struggle to manage day-to-day running, cope with forthcoming restructuring while saving money.

County councillor David Lloyd, executive member with responsibility for adult care services and health issues, said: "There is no doubt that financial pressures in the health system impact on the council's social care budgets.

"Ward closures and reductions in other services can mean people transfer to social care before they are fully recovered or when they might benefit from further therapy or simply recovery time.

"Health service treatment in rehabilitation and recovery alongside social care is essential to supporting people to be independent. If such support is not forthcoming then ongoing costs of social care support will be higher."

A North Herts and Stevenage Primary Care Trust spokesman said: "As with other local NHS trusts facing a deficit, the PCT has a very robust financial recovery plan in place agreed with the SHA which is helping to manage the overspend.

"The PCT continues to provide excellent clinical services while working to try and meet our financial targets and it is anticipated that the overspend at year end will be £3.7m from our total budget of £195m."

The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust which runs Lister Hospital has a year end deficit target of £18.9m.