The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, in Exeter, is performing so many operations that two local health authorities say that their coffers have been drained. Exeter and Mid Devon primary care trusts (PCTs) have asked the hospital to extend the average waiting time for non-urgent operations from a few weeks to about 4½ months to let their finances catch up. Exeter PCT is predicting an overspend this year of £1.75 million and Mid Devon PCT, an overspend of £1.65 million.

However, East Devon PCT, which sends patients to the same hospital, has no predicted budget overspend and its patients are expected to benefit from its neighbours’ cash-flow problems. The Royal Devon and Exeter treats 65 per cent of patients within three months.In a joint statement, the two cash-strapped PCTs said: “Mid Devon and Exeter primary care trusts recognise that the high level of productivity shown by the (hospital) is good news for patients.

“But it must also be recognised that we have a responsibility to live within our means. It is public money, after all. We hope to strike a balance by lengthening waits to national target times for a very small number of non-urgent procedures, such as non-cancer related exploratory work and minor operations.”

Elaine Hobson, the hospital director of operations, said: “The hospital works closely with all PCTs to ensure capacity fits demand. We would like to reassure all patients with appointments they will not be affected in any way.

“At present all eligible non-urgent cases are seen within the national six-month framework and this achievement will not be compromised.” Any operating time made available by delaying operations for Exeter and Mid Devon patients could now be filled by East Devon patients.

Colin Hadley, the chairman of the patient and public involvement forum at the hospital, said: “It seems ludicrous that someone living in Exeter could have to wait longer than someone eight miles away in Budleigh Salterton.

“If I was living in Exeter and needing one of these operations, I would not be very pleased about it.”

• Last month a surgeon at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro was told to operate on fewer patients because the NHS could not afford his workrate.

  Alastair Paterson, 59, was told to treat only clinically urgent cases or those nearing waiting-time limits. The North and East Cornwall PCT said: “While we would wish to treat everyone immediately, we do not have enough money.”

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