NHS planning for 'massive cuts' amid financial crisis

The future of a number of NHS services across England are in doubt, as health bosses consider ways to meet efficiency and finance targets set out by former chancellor George Osborne.

Plans include "hospital closures, cutbacks and radical changes to the way healthcare is delivered", says The Guardian, adding that NHS England could be facing a financial shortfall of about £20bn by 2020-21 if no action is taken.

A&E units and key services for the elderly are among those to be "stripped out and centralised", the Daily Telegraph reports.

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The revelations come after several draft "sustainability and transformation plans" were uncovered by journalists and the crowd-funded campaign group 38 Degrees.

"This is new evidence that plans are being made to close local NHS services," said 38 Degrees director Laura Townshend. "We all rely on these services, yet we are being kept in the dark."

NHS England said: "It is hardly a secret that the NHS is looking to make major efficiencies and the best way of doing so is for local doctors, hospitals and councils to work together to decide the way forward in consultation with local communities."

A number of the draft proposals are expected to be adopted and enacted as early as October this year.