PATIENTS are facing major cuts in services after health chiefs in Fareham and Gosport revealed they have already overspent by nearly £5m.

Bosses blame unexpected hospital treatments for £3.7m overspending since a £1m debt and recovery programme was announced in September.

Ten months into the financial year and with the prospect of even more cash being spent by April, they are to cut cover for staff vacancies and sickness in a bid to reduce the deficit from £4.7m to about £2.5m.

The budget for the year for Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust stood at nearly £185m, including ambitious savings of nearly £8m.

Deputy chief executive Alan Pickering told the Daily Echo that the trust is one of the worst in the region for overspending.

He said: "We are overspending because we are paying too much money for people receiving unexpected hospital treatment. There are more and more emergency admissions into hospitals and because it is care people are entitled to we've got to pay for it.

"This year has been worse than ever. This area is worse than other areas because we have a lot more elderly people who are in homes and who are living longer due to better medicines and so on. That increases our spending. It seems a pretty dire situation."

Mr Pickering admitted a revised aim of £2.5m deficit is something the trust will be "highly unlikely to meet".

Chief executive Ian Piper added: "We are finding ways to turn the tap off for the demand for hospital treatment. A great majority of the people going to A&E by ambulance could have been treated more appropriately by GPs at home."

Patients groups have hit out at the latest figures.

Commander Raymond Hale, vice chairman of the Fareham and Gosport Patient and Public Involvement Forum, said: "We are very concerned about the planned cuts in services. It should be known that the PCT is required to consult with the public and patients over any service cuts.

"The facts are very disturbing. It is such a big overspend. It was not anticipated and no allowances have been made."