NOTTINGHAM'S hospitals are to cut 400 jobs to help make up to £40m of extra savings.

Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, which runs the City Hospital and Queen's Medical Centre, had already planned to save £35m next year, but it now anticipates the total savings could be between £55m and £75m.

The problem has arisen because NHS primary care trusts, which pay the hospitals for services, have warned they expect to receive less money than they need from the Government next year.

Hospital bosses hope to cut most of the 400 posts from the 13,000-strong workforce by not filling vacancies.

Back office and administrative services are being cut, while the hospitals hope they can also find ways to make services cheaper and more efficient. Hospitals Trust chief executive Dr Peter Homa said it aimed to "make sure there is no negative impact on the quality of patient care".

But union officials say it is inevitable the cuts will hit quality.

Unison representative Martin Benn said: "We are saying there is no more fat to trim from the bone. It will be difficult to lose 400 posts without a knock-on impact."

The coalition government has pledged to protect NHS spending. It is expected to increase health service funding when an announcement is made next month, but PCTs fear this will not keep pace with the rising demand on services.

READ MORE: Cuts in NHS funding create an extra challenge for Nottingham's hospitals.