Concerns have been raised about the future of patient services after Sutton and Merton PCT were revealed to be millions of pounds in the red.

The London Assembly said questions needed to be asked after NHS London admitted the £4.2m deficit and acknowledged it could get worse.

The total amount of forecast deficit across the capital is £85.4 million - considerably more than the £72.6 million total of trusts and PCTs in deficit at the end of in 2008/2009.

However while certain NHS organisations are struggling, overall the NHS London has said it will end this financial year in surplus.

Chair of the London Assembly’s health and public services committee, James Cleverly AM, said: “NHS London has told us that it is going to be even tougher in future years, so it is very worrying that six of the capital’s PCTs and acute trusts are in the red already.

“We are concerned about the size of these deficits and the impact they could have on the services Londoners receive.”

MP for Sutton and Cheam Paul Burstow said if there have to be savings to balance the books then “that should be done with full disclosure, consultation and accountability.”

A Trust spokesperson said the authority predicted a year end deficit of £4.9 million, but was committed to achieving a “breakeven position” and was implementing a recovery plan.

She said the key risk to achieving breakeven was the outcome of discussions with St George’s Hospital about “over performance on our contract with the Trust” which will conclude in next two weeks.

She said: “Going forward, our challenging financial situation in 2010/11 means that ensuring financial balance and the sustainability of local services is our main priority.

We want to make sure that we target appropriate investment in primary care and we will be looking to reduce the costs of our current services and care pathways either through better healthcare closer to home and productivity gains.”

South London Healthcare NHS Trust recorded a deficit of -£37.7m, Barking, Havering and Redbridge acute trust -£19.7m, West Middlesex acute trust -£5.2m, North West London Hospitals -£8.2m and Barnet PCT -£10.5m.