DIVISIONAL managers of three hospitals - including Ilkley's threatened Coronation Hospital - are carrying a full review of services as the debate about the hospital's future goes on.

Airedale NHS Trust - which met yesterday - says it has started consultations with its partners, including Airedale Primary Care Trust.

It says that a full review of services at the Coronation Hospital, Bingley Hospital and Skipton General Hospital is taking place. The review, says the trust, is expected to look into the efficiency and effectiveness of services at their current sites, and the potential for re-provision of services, where appropriate.

A report on Airedale NHS Trust's cost improvement programme for 2002-2003 says the Strategic Health Authority requires a full recovery plan by September 13, for the trust's deficit this financial year.

But health chiefs say no plan has yet been worked out for the Coronation Hospital or its services, which is scheduled to be announced in the coming weeks.

Chief executive of Airedale NHS Trust, Bob Allen, told the Ilkley Gazette neither the trust nor Airedale Primary Care Trust is yet ready to release any plans for the future of the Coronation Hospital and its services.

He said: "We will not announce anything until towards the end of September. We have just been talking about the fact that we still have a financial gap, but we are still in discussions. The details won't be available until late in September."

Airedale NHS Trust board was expected to meet at the Airedale General Hospital yesterday.