THE cash-strapped trust which runs Fairfield Hospital could have saved millions of pounds if it had reduced the length of time patients stay in hospital, according to a government study.

The Pennine Acute Trust is predicting a £21 million end-of-year debt, but a report by government watchdog the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement shows the trust, which runs Fairfield, North Manchester, Royal Oldham and Rochdale Infirmary, could have saved almost £17 million in three months by cutting the length of time patients stayed in hospital between April and June. This would lead to a reduction in the cost per patient, the risk of patients being exposed to hospital infections, accident and emergency waiting times and improve patient care.

A spokesman for Pennine Acute said: "As with all reports, they are only a snapshot of a particular time. As part of our financial recovery programme, the trust is already undertaking work in areas this report highlights.

For instance, we have already identified work streams to improve our efficiency, such as increasing the amount of day surgery the trust carries out to making more effective use of theatres.

Also, since the trust was formed in 2002, we have already seen the average length of stay for patients drop by a quarter thanks to a range of initiatives and we are working on this to reduce it further. At the same time, the trust is seeing more patients more quickly and carrying out more operations and examinations than ever before, despite the pressures we face."