PATIENTS attending the x-ray department at Basildon hospital were shocked to see a plastic sheet and tube jury-rigged to deal with a leaking roof.

The cash-strapped hospital has been running at a deficit for years. Last year it was £31.5 million over its budget, and it looks set to be almost £10 million overspent this year when the accounts are drawn up in April.

Recently the hospital admitted it was having to take out loans to cover the cost of wages and it appears now that the infrastructure of the building has problems.

The patient, from Stanford-le-Hope, said: "The x-ray department is shabby and it was a shock to see this contraption to deal with a leak. This is a hospital, you don't expect to see things link this in a hospital."

The hospital's chief executive Clare Panniker recently reported to its board and said she would like to thank all staff for their continued hard work and dedication to patient care, under "very challenging circumstances".

She added: "I am also grateful to our clinical leaders who, despite these pressures, have kept up their enthusiasm and momentum for service redesign and improvement.

"The financial position of the Mid and South Essex Hospital trusts remains challenging.

"There is a particular financial pressure at Basildon Hospital at the present time, which is the focus of concerted efforts by clinical and corporate leaders supported by a dedicated turnaround team."

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A spokesperson for the hospital declined to say how long the contraption dealing with a leaky roof has been in place but said: ""Maintenance work is currently underway to repair the roof in the X-ray department and our estates teams are working hard to ensure this work is completed as quickly as possible."