WINCHESTER hospital staff still face a tough task to keep control of spending, despite receiving good financial news.

Their boss told workers at the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust that it has broken even in the financial year 2006/07.

The trust has had a tough 12 months with some 20 job cuts and two ward closures.

In a briefing to staff at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, chief executive Chris Evennett, said: "We cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal where the finances are concerned but we do now have the advantage of planning savings over a longer period."

He added: "Your achievements are fantastic. I am proud of you and you should be proud of yourselves."

Mr Evennett told staff: "It's been a very challenging year but is important that you realise that your efforts have earned us the right to go forward with our foundation trust application. Your progress against our £11.2m savings target is all the more remarkable because you have implemented new computer systems and continued to reduce the numbers of patients who are delayed in hospital (bed blocking) once they are well enough to leave."