NHS trusts have been asked to make drastic cuts as the with an anticipated deficiency of nearly ₤ 7 billion, health leaders warned today.

In a survey for NHS Providers, 47 per cent of trust leaders cautioned they are rolling back services to balance the books, while another 43 percent are thinking about doing so.

Rehabilitation centres, talking therapies and diabetes services for young individuals are among services at danger.

Eighty-six percent of participants stated their organisation is having to cut jobs in non-clinical teams, while 37 per cent plan to cut scientific posts.

A number of trusts are aiming to cut 500 tasks or more, with one preparation as many as 1,000.

NHS union Unison's head of health Helga Pile said: "Ministers should not be insisting trusts balance their books while ignoring the damaging consequences for client care and a demoralised labor force.

"The NHS requires more staff - not less employees - if hold-ups and waits on patients are to end."

It comes as NHS president Sir Jim Mackey informed a Medical Journalists Association event in London the service had "maxed out on what is cost effective."