MEDWAY'S hospital chief is warning that beds will be cut unless crunch talks result in an extra £5million of funding. The budget drawn up by health planners falls far short of what is needed for Medway Maritime Hospital, says Medway NHS Trust chief executive, Jan Filochowski.

Unless the funding offer is increased, staff and bed increases will have to be put on hold, resulting in fewer patients being treated than expected.

Mr Filochowski said: "We have found a gap of £5million in terms of what we believe we need and what's on offer, and this is a matter of concern to us. If that gap is not bridged, something has to give, and we will have to cut the number of beds we have.

"Clearly, this means we will not be able to meet our waiting lists targets. We will have to find large reductions in spending, because we are not prepared to run an unsafe hospital."

The hospital has been offered £111.7million but Medway NHS Trust is demanding £117million - leaving a gap of £5.3million.

The offer comes through Medway and Swale Primary Care Groups, which allocate about four-fifths of hospital funding. Negotiations are due to finish any day and the trust's board is appealing for more money to pay for eight more beds and nursing cover, to increase patient numbers. Otherwise, hospital managers might have to find private help, or reduce admissions.

The trust also wants to appoint a new paediatric surgeon with supporting doctors to improve efficiency in accident and emergency.

A new doctor in Accident and Emergency would be necessary to make sure nine-tenths of patients are admitted, transferred or discharged within the target of four hours by the end of next March 31.

Mr Filochowski said that he was still in talks with the primary care groups but did not know when the outcome would be announced.