Aneurin Bevan officially opened the hospital in 1948

Trafford General, which was opened by Aneurin Bevan on the day the NHS was born in 1948, has a budget shortfall.

Managers at the hospital plan to demolish "non essential" office buildings so they can charge visitors and staff for parking.

Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, which manages the 400-bed hospital in Urmston Greater Manchester, is �9m in debt.

It said bulldozing 25% of its buildings would not result in a similar cut in services.

Hospital faces closure

The proposals follow a critical Audit Commission report into its financial recovery plans, which said the trust was "significantly underachieving".

Altrincham General Hospital could also be closed as part of the cuts.

The trust had a �3.5m deficit for the last financial year, which is projected to rise to �9m in the current financial year.

In two years, the trust anticipates debts of �12.5m.

A spokesman said the proposals were open to consultation.

Bevan, who was the health minister and architect of the NHS, had visited the hospital on 5 July, 1948, to symbolically receive its keys.