WE all want, and are justified in expecting, the best health service our taxes can buy.

But budgets are there to be met and books have to balance and that's why the multi-million pound overspend built up by East Lancashire Hospitals Trust has been a real worry.

Today we hear that thanks to a variety of savings measures, and by dipping into its reserves, the Trust could soon be out of the red and breaking even for the first time since it came into being three years ago.

But at the same time, the trust's operations director announces that up to 200 beds are likely to be slashed in the next 12 months. We are told this will "improve" rather than damage patient care, processes will be "slicker" and more patients will be cared for in the community after being discharged something the hospitals trust doesn't have to pay for.

Many patients will now fear the trust is hoping to save cash by effectively passing care costs on to Primary Care Trusts in the community.

It is important for hospitals to treat people quickly but more important that they receive the best service, not just in hospital, but until fully recovered. We need reassurance that total care will not deteriorate.