NHS North Yorkshire and York says it may have to reduce the number of hospital beds as it looks to cut a £19million deficit.

Christopher Long, chief executive of the trust, has announced it has brought in management consultants KPMG, to help develop a long-term strategy.

He said: “As part of this long-term strategy, we are not planning to close any district general hospitals and we will not be proposing to move to a single maternity and paediatric unit for North Yorkshire.

“Importantly, there will be a continued provision of A&E and maternity services in Scarborough.

“We will be looking to change how we use our community hospitals and how we use community health services most effectively – helping patients remain in their own homes and reducing the need for hospital admissions.”

A shortlist of cost-saving measures is expected to go before NHS North Yorkshire and York’s board on January 22.