HEALTH bosses have admitted to being nearly £10 million overspent in just the first four months of the new financial year.

They have called for urgent action to be taken by directors to carry out cost savings schemes to ensure the organisation balances its books by the end of March.

Abertawe Bro Morganwg University Health Board is expected to make savings of £77.4 million. Eifion Williams, director of finance of the organisation, said within the report, which went before the board at its meeting held in the Civic Centre in Swansea: "The month 04 budget reports for 2010/11 have recently been finalised and show an overspend of some £9.981 million as at the end of July 2010.

"Clearly, the continued overspending trend is a major concern at this stage in the year and it has been emphasised how imperative it is that all directors and their management teams give focused attention to the delivery of balanced year end outturn, so that the position can be corrected.

"Schemes must be identified and implemented that fully deliver the savings programme and action taken to curtail cost overspends."

Figures showed the women and child health department was £928,000 overspent, the musculoskeletal department was £671,000 overspent and the anaesthetics, critical care and theatres department was £669,000 overspent.

Win Griffiths, chairman of ABM University Health Board, added: "It's a big challenge for us.

"We have just got to get ahead and make sure we can do it by the end of the year."