THE trust that runs south Cumbria's hospitals has reduced spending as it battles 'significant' financial challenges.

The Morecambe Bay NHS Trust is facing a deficit of more than £16 million, according to its most recent figures, more than £3 million more than expected for this year.

It follows higher spending on agency staff following staff absences and holidays, and strike action earlier this year.

So-called bed blocking, where a patient is fit to leave the hospital but has nowhere to go, has also been blamed for increased costs.

Figures presented to the trust's board of directors earlier this year showed that the most recent strike action among junior doctors cost the organisation £100,000. The union that represents junior doctors has since voted to accept a pay deal with the Government.

The trust is attempting to cut costs this year and bosses say they have reduced spending, including by freezing recruitment to roles not connected to patient care. 

Chris Adcock, the chief financial officer and deputy chief executive of the trust, said: "As with many NHS Trusts in our system and across the country, we are currently facing a significant  challenge. 

"This year is particularly difficult due to a number of reasons, including the highest cost improvement target in the Trust's history, the high number of patients in our hospitals that no longer need hospital care but cannot be discharged without support, the ongoing need for agency colleagues to fill gaps in rotas, and the funding received to provide services not meeting the costs of delivering such services across our unique geography. 

"Our Trust has a strong track record of delivering savings whilst continuing to invest in services and staffing, but we have had to take some actions to help reduce spending in certain areas.

"These include pausing recruitment to roles that don't deliver or support direct patient care, restricting spend on non-essential supplies and offering more support to our teams to identify and move forward savings plans.

"Patient safety remains our priority, and our teams across the Trust continue to work hard to offer high quality and safe services in these challenging circumstances."