Oxfordshire health managers have announced a plan to make cuts in spending of up to £240m over the next five years.
NHS Oxfordshire, which plans and provides health care and funds hospital treatments, announced earlier today it could need to make savings of up to £80m a year from April 2011 because its budget might not be increased after the next financial year.
Next year the service will receive an increase of £40m on its £800m a year budget, to plan and purchase healthcare for the people of Oxfordshire.
However, the service has forecast yearly increases will cease in line with national NHS cutbacks as the country struggles to cope with the economic crisis.
It has claimed the savings could need to be made because demand and costs, such as staff salaries and inflation, will continue to rise.
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