Hello THERE is a “significant risk” Glasgow hospitals will not be able to deliver services over the high pressured winter months due to funding shortages, health chiefs have warned.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde states in official documents that it will receive half of the funding it was given last year by the Scottish Government to bolster resources over the busiest time of the year.

It was given £2.1 matched funding last year but the board said the amount had been cut to £1.04m for 2019/2020.

It comes at a time when A&E admissions are up by 3.8% compared to this time last year, while the 4-hour target rate has worsened this year with 88% of patients seen, treated or discharged in August compared to 90.3% last year.

A severe winter, the board said, would compound the situation, added to the uncertainty of Brexit and Glasgow’s health service is already predicting a £29million deficit.

Some weather experts have predicted this year could see a return to the sub-zero 'Beast from the East' conditions of 2018.

Read more: NHSGGC facing funding deficit of £61.5million over the next four years, Audit Scotland warns

Labour’s Monica Lennon described the board's winter plan document as a “cry for help.”

She said: “This is extremely worrying. SNP ministers have completely mismanaged the NHS and our hospitals are struggling to cope.”

The board said the number of people awaiting discharge from hospital has also increased this year with an average 108 extra beds needed each day.

The winter action plan is focussed on reducing A&E visits and admissions with plans to re-instate a minor injuries unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and a new service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Read more: Delayed discharges costing Glasgow's NHS millions

The papers state: “Last year, NHS GGC incurred additional expenditure of £5.664m to provide services over the winter period of which £2.1m was provided centrally.

“This year’s allocation from the Scottish Government to support Winter preparations is £1.047m.

“There is a significant risk to maintaining services over the winter period, particularly given the high levels of demand currently being experienced.

“A severe winter will further stretch our ability to respond within available resources.”

It comes after an Audit Scotland report revealed the NHS is facing a shortage of almost £2bn over the next four years, with NHSGGC alone said to be in line for a funding deficit of around £61.5million.

NHSGGC said it incurred more than £5million of extra costs last winter.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As in previous years, boards will receive additional resources to deal with pressures caused by winter, the details of which will be published shortly. “NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will receive more than £3.6 million.”