HOSPITAL chiefs in Bolton have accepted that responsibility for their finances was down to them.

Health Secretary John Reid said on a visit to the Royal Bolton Hospital on Monday that it was up to management to balance the books.

He said the Government had pumped £24 million of extra money into Bolton since 1999 and local managers had to take responsibility for their finances .

Hospital bosses said they took the financial situation very seriously - but that more money would be welcomed.

In November and December, the hospital went a further £554,000 deeper into debt. New and more expensive drugs were blamed, with a £363,000 overspend on the drugs bill.

The hospital's new finance director, Colin Dunn, has told the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority the hospital was predicting a £3 million deficit at the end of the financial year in March.

Hospital chief executive David Fillingham said: "The NHS has had a lot of new investment and a lot of that has been in Bolton and I do agree that our finances are the responsibility of the hospital.

"I take that responsibility very seriously and am working with management and staff at the Bolton Primary Care Trust to look at the services we offer, improving the way we work and making sure, as we move forward, that we have a clear plan for the future.

"Finance has been a long-running issue in Bolton, but the Trust gets money on a capitation basis. If it was on a population basis, the Trust is about five per cent from its target allocation. There's no question I'd be absolutely delighted to see the Trust get more funding and I know local MPs have been campaigning for that.

"My aim is for patients to have choice of where they are treated and to provide the best possible service so patients choose to be treated in Bolton, and more income will flow into the hospital that way."

Philip Allott, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Bolton West, said: "I'm appalled. Bolton is underfunded by the Government when compared to other areas and I'm not convinced the money that is there is feeding through to the right areas."

Cllr Andy Morgan, a staunch supporter of the hospital, said: "This is not down to bad management, but because the hospital is not getting enough funding I do think the management should stand up for themselves and shout from the rooftops that they need more money to balance their books.

"It is a worrying situation for the hospital and the public, but the management needs to challenge the Government for the benefit of the people they represent, their patients."