Staff have been asked to help tackle the deficit

A review is being held to look into the causes, and what can be done to solve the problem.

Last year, the trust had to borrow nearly �6m from another health authority because of financial difficulties.

The 7,000 staff at the United Lincolnshire Trust have been asked to help the situation by being economical.

Services suffering

But the trade union, Unison, says it is worried about the extra pressure on workers.

Union spokesman Dave Godson said: "I think the ability of the trust to provide all the services demanded of them is more difficult.

"Clearly they can only provide a certain amount of service with the staff they have got.

"So, you either increase the workload of staff - in which case the level of service might suffer.

Review ordered

"Or you say we cannot put in any extra staff to provide this service, we can only provide X, Y and Z and that is what we will concentrate on."

He added: "We believe in a fullyfunded NHS. If you want new services or changes services then those services have to be fully funded.

"If you don't, then ultimately those services cannot be provided effectively"

In a statement, the United Lincolnshire NHS Trust, said: "At the end of June 2003 the trust was overspent by �1.5 million pounds.