Skipton General Hospital could face closure in an Airedale cost-cutting exercise, health chiefs have confirmed.
The chief executive of Airedale NHS Trust, Bob Allen, confirmed that closure was one possibility being considered to make up the £1.6 million deficit the trust faces.
It is currently in negotiation with Harrogate and Craven Primary Care Trust (PCT) over the issue, but Mr Allen has stressed that discussions are at an early stage.
He said the situation in Skipton was similar to that at Ilkley and Bingley, where hospitals have also been earmarked for closure.
"We need to review the services to see if we can continue to afford them. We have only just started to talk to Harrogate and Craven Primary Care Trust.
"It is the same issue as Ilkley and Bingley, but discussions are not at such an advanced stage," he said.
Asked if this meant Skipton General Hospital could face closure, he replied: "I don't know, but that's one of the possibilities.
"There's a long way to go in discussions. There will be more information available at the end of the month when we have talked to the PCT."
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