By becoming a foundation trust, the City Hospital would have responsibility for its own finances and budgets.

But officials from the hospital are concerned about the monetary pressure it could have put on services there.

A spokesman said they took their current performance into account and their "underperformance against financial targets".

And, they say the hospital is facing a "period of financial restraint".

Bosses are not ruling out reapplying for foundation trust status in future, but do not believe they will be able to do so for at least a year.