The hospital needs another �1.5m

One of the UK's leading cancer hospitals has said it may be forced to ration treatment due to a lack of funds.

The Christie Hospital in Manchester says that patients will face delays in chemotherapy, which could put lives at risk.

The hospital fears it may have to set up waiting lists for the first time.

Last year doctors at the hospital carried out 7,200 more treatments than they had budgeted for.

Some of their costs were met later, but now they have been told that there will be no extra funds this year.

Joanna Wallace, Chief Executive at the Christie Hospital, said: "The demand is outstripping the ability of the NHS system in Greater Manchester to pay for it.

To carry on treating people the way that we want to, and the people of Manchester would want us to, is very expensive Joanna Wallace Christie Hospital

"We haven't yet worked out how our waiting lists will be managed."

Money for treatment must come from the NHS - strict rules mean hospitals cannot use charity money to pay for NHS treatments.

Ms Wallace added: "We need another �1.5m. It is not just the cost of the drugs that goes up when you do more treatments it is all the other things associated with it.

"There is so much more we can do for cancer now.

"But unfortunately to be able to carry on treating people the way that we want to and the people of Manchester would want us to is very expensive."

'Difficult decisions'

The Primary Care Trusts say that the hospital has had its fair share of NHS money and that they accept that there will be some "difficult decisions".

Bolton PCT negotiates on behalf of all Greater Manchester PCTs on how much money goes into specialist cancer services.

Chief Executive Dr Kevin Snee, said: "The Primary Care Trusts across Greater Manchester are investing an additional �5.7m this year in specialist cancer services of which �3.7m will go to the Christie Hospital.

"We realise that this large amount will still not be sufficient to meet all the Christie's aspirations, and negotiations are still continuing about exactly how this money will be invested."