HOSPITAL staff are being briefed on the knock-on effects of closer links between hospitals in mid and south Bucks.

The board of Buckinghamshire Health Authority announced on Wednesday that a discussion paper suggested a series of clinical networks should be forged, effectively creating one main in-patient centre for some specialisms and having out-patients clinics at every hospital.

If the discussions were put into practice it may mean longer journeys for in-patients to specialist units.

Health bosses are also looking at merging South Bucks NHS Trust and Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust but say any proposals to combine the trusts would be subject to a formal public consultation.

At the meeting on Wednesday, director of finance Martin Cutler said the health authority was facing great difficulties in meeting all the requirements of the government's modernisation proposals for the health service - the NHS plan.

Mr Cutler said: "The position we are currently in is not affordable. If there is no more money we will have to think about which areas to look at." He said the plan would be examined to see which parts were most essential, and the aim would be to meet those requirements.

The meeting also discussed breast screening provision and the health authority board said that a leading national expert has said it should be possible to maintain breast screening services at Wycombe, Stoke Mandeville and Milton Keynes Hospitals.

Dr Robert Sheriff, director of public health, said a change in the service was still necessary for patients who require further medical treatment following the initial mammogram, who make up seven per cent of the women screened.

Final recommendations on breast screening services are expected in the spring following a national conference on breast screening provision.