The National Health Service is facing a quarter of a billion pound deficit by the end of this financial year, a new report has warned.

A survey by the Health Service Journal, which covered 27 of the 28 English strategic health authorities, shows that their finance directors believe they can reduce the figure to £225 million by April.

The Department of Health said it was "not unusual" for the NHS to be reporting deficits at this stage of the financial year.

"We expect that by the year-end the majority of NHS organisations, and the NHS as a whole, will achieve financial balance," it said.