Gillian Merron said government money would help pay off debts

Lincoln MP Gillian Merron was speaking at a meeting with the Trent Strategic Health Authority discussing the region's NHS debt.

The Labour MP said Primary Care Trusts would use extra money allocated by the government to pay off the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust debt.

She said the trust's projected deficit of �20m was now forecast to be �17.5m.

It is not yet known how much money the three Primary Care Trusts will pay towards the debt recovery plan.

By the end of the month the total debt for the whole of the NHS in Lincolnshire is expected to peak at �35m.

More details are expected to be revealed later in the week on how hospitals will cut costs whilst trying to improve services.