NHS managers in Brighton may close four hospital wards in a bid to control a financial crisis.

They will meet behind closed doors to decide if the run-down Brighton General Hospital wards, with more than 60 beds, should shut.

Unions believe the latest move will spell the end for acute in-patient care at the Elm Grove site and result in staff redundancies.

Elderly patients and people suffering breathing problems would be transferred to the Royal Sussex County Hospital or treated at home if the proposed cuts are agreed.

The in-patient beds at the Elton John Unit, for people who are HIV positive, would also be closed down.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH) NHS Trust, which runs the threatened acute services wards, is struggling to prevent a £16 million budget overspend this year. Earlier this year the trust was given a zero star rating by the Healthcare Commission.

A South Downs Health NHS Trust document seen by The Argus suggests the closures have been timed for January to balance the books.

The internal memo says: "The changes would help Brighton and Sussex Hospitals to reduce their very serious financial overspend as well as providing care to patients in more appropriate ways.

"The financial situation facing BSUH means that action must be taken quickly so that savings can start to be made this financial year.

"There have been plans in place for a long time to move patients away from the old and inappropriate wards at Brighton General."

The report adds: "The reduction of beds will be managed by reducing the amount of time people spend in hospital, improving discharge procedures and preventing admissions by, for example, having a respiratory team working with people in their own homes."

Health trust bosses behind the move say the closures have been openly planned for years because the wards are outdated.

They confirmed some staff face redundancy but said unions would be consulted.

The ward closures will prove hugely embarrassing for Prime Minister Tony Blair as he tries to convince the country Labour has delivered on the health service at the party conference later this month, opponents claim.

David Logan, the Conservative candidate for Kemp- town, said: "This is a very worrying development, and acutely embarrassing for the Government just before their own party conference here.

"Despite the billions Labour claim to have poured into the NHS the trust is in a financial crisis and the elderly will bear the brunt of cuts.

"These cuts are finance driven and it is far from certain the new measures will actually happen or even be funded."

Sean Weston, Brighton District Health branch secretary at Unison, said: "There will be no more acute inpatient beds at Brighton General so we will be looking at potential redundancies.

"These closures are a matter of trying to ensure these underfunded health services are able to continue. We are not getting any assistance here from the Government and there is an overspend."

Health managers will meet to discuss the closure of C1, C2 and D3 wards for older people and ward C3 where people with severe respiratory problems are cared for.

The cuts would be compensated by 46 new beds at the Royal Sussex and early discharges.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Sussex County Hospitals NHS Trust said: "This is part of a long-term strategy to deliver better patient care.

"One of the ways to do this is to make sure you are making best use of resources, be they staff resources or financial resources.

"The whole strategic aim is acute services will not be at Brighton General hospital."

Sue Trimingham, of the South Downs Health NHS Trust, which runs Brighton General hospital and supplies support staff for the wards, said the changes were being made in the open.

She said: "These wards are not in a fit state for the level of care we expect now.

"This is all part of long- term plans, there is nothing secret about it as far as we're concerned.

"There is nothing magical about the meeting on Tuesday and there is no final decision to be made."

Three wards have already been closed at Brighton General, resulting in the Royal Sussex having to take on more patients.