REDUNDANCIES are being planned at Darent Valley Hospital in a bid to make up a £1m deficit.

The hospital in Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, is aiming to cut 45 posts - two per cent of the workforce.

It is consulting with staff until October 8 and will ask for voluntary redundancies.

If not enough people come forward then the hospital will be looking at compulsory redundancies.

The move by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is part of a review of its staffing requirements to prevent it from ending the financial year in debt.

Three months ago, Darent Valley said it hoped it would not have to make any redundancies, despite cut backs in hospitals across the country.

However, money problems have made this the "last possible option" for the hospital.

It has to make up a £1m deficit to break even in March next year.

Chief executive officer Mark Devlin says the trust will only be targeting administration and managerial positions.

He said: "The public does not need to worry that we will be cutting back on frontline posts like nurses.

"I do not want people to panic that the level of care will be compromised.

"The increase in the use of technology at the hospital has made it that we do not need some staff to perform the jobs they once did.

Mr Devlin added: "We are putting more emphasis on delivering healthcare in the community, closer to patients' homes.

"During the consultation period I am open to any suggestions we might not have looked at.

"But we have looked at every last possible option and I think, unfortunately, this is the only one which will work."