HOSPITAL bosses hope their budget for 2007/8 will break even for the first time in years. The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust – which runs Lister, QEII and Hertford County hospitals has been in and out of debt since 1999. At its worst point the def

HOSPITAL bosses hope their budget for 2007/8 will break even for the first time in years.

The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust - which runs Lister, QEII and Hertford County hospitals has been in and out of debt since 1999. At its worst point the deficit reached £22.5m in 2005/06.

But chief executive Nick Carver has clawed back the cash and hopes by next April to have the budget back in the black.

He said: "We are cautiously confident at hitting the target at the end of the year."

However, he added that although the financial situation now looked stable, it did not mean that both Lister and the QEII were safe from cuts.

Mr Carver said changes across the health services meant the Trust actually expected less money to come their way.

He said: "The goal for the year that starts on April 1 is to get to a break-even position and to repay debts that we have. We will need to pay off that debt within two years.

"What's happening nationally is that a lot of acute work is being moved into GPs' territory, so the PCTs will be spending less money with us.

"PCTs will continue to disinvest in hospitals and invest in care locally."