Mr Taylor is concerned services will suffer until the debt is paid off

Last week, a plan to borrow some �8m from Cornwall County Council failed when the District Auditor ruled it illegal.

The MP for Truro and St Austell, Matthew Taylor, says he is now concerned that if action is not taken, health services in the county will suffer.

Mr Taylor says the deficit has been building up over recent years because the government has failed to recognise the high cost of delivering health care in rural areas.

If the government believes there was enough money in the past, then why did they raise taxes Matthew Taylor MP

Debts from the old Health Authority have been passed onto the new trusts, who are now faced with having to find the money while trying to maintain services.

Mr Taylor fears money will have to be diverted from funds allocated to improving care and that service improvements will be halted while the debt is paid off.

However, he says that, ultimately, the deficit is the government's problem.

He said: "They have abolished the old authorities whose responsibility it was.

"They have set up new ones involving doctors, nurses and health professionals to try and turn it round, and they are now being saddled with having to pay off debts that be definition arose because there wasn't enough money.

"If the government believes there was enough money in the past, then why did they raise taxes and why are they putting so much more in."

Mr Taylor has met health managers in Cornwall and is promising to raise their concerns with ministers with a view to getting the funding formulas changed.