Health chiefs in Cornwall have drawn up a four-year plan to tackle a �39m overspend.

A director of modernisation costing �75,000 a year will spearhead the economy drive.

And one of their first tasks will be to cut prescription costs, which are estimated to be �9m a year more than they should be.

All NHS trusts and GPs are looking at this as one way of reducing their overspends.

Many patients live far from hospitals

Truro pharmacist Graham Brack said: "Cornwall maybe did not get its fair share of cash for prescribing.

"We also know that we have more than the average number of elderly people who need more prescriptions.

"Perhaps our budget should have been bigger because of that.

"On top of that some patients have had to have medication to avoid trips to hospital far from home."

Steve Raddings, one of Mr Bracks customers, said: "If generic brands can be used that's fine by me.

Brain scanners cost �1m each

"We don't expect to get health care for free."

Expensive equipment such as brain scanners at more than �1m each are demanded for modern health care.

And Cornwall will soon have three of them instead of one.

But the county is going to find it increasingly difficult to provide this sort of service without greater efficiencies.

Finding ways for trusts to pool resources more effectively will be top of the cost-cutting agenda.