THE boss of a struggling health trust has warned of 'difficult decisions' ahead as the organisation attempts to balance good quality care with falling levels of funding.

Claire Molloy, chief executive of the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, told staff the news during her annual Christmas message.

The cash-strapped NHS provider is at the centre of controversy over the proposed closure of community hospital beds in the north of Cumbria.

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Mrs Molloy said: "Increasingly, our aspirations for what we want to achieve in terms of quality are getting more difficult to balance against the money that we have got available.

"A fantastic effort has gone into achieving our savings programme but we know it's going to get more difficult - that's the national position but it's also where we are locally."

She added: "We know we may have some difficult decisions to make in the next few years."

The organisation, which runs inpatient mental health wards such as Barrow's Dane Garth as well as services for children with moderate to severe mental health conditions from the town's Fairfield Centre, recorded a deficit of £9.1 million in its final accounts for 2015/16 in March.

It is currently said to 'require improvement' by government health watchdog the Care Quality Commission.

But despite the trust's ongoing financial and operational difficulties, Mrs Molloy took time to praise the efforts of staff across the trust, describing the work of employees as 'inspirational' during a tough year.

"I see and hear every day some fantastic stories of staff going above and beyond," she said.

"People are determined to provide the best care for the patients we serve. They are inspirational."

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