THE Labour Party has gone on the attack over the future of the NHS as they release figures showing health trusts up and down the country are struggling to cope with budgetary constraints.

They have released the figures from a leaked document outlining the full extent of the funding crisis they claim is hampering hospitals.

Figures released show two thirds of trusts expect to be in deficit in the current financial year following analysis of 98 trusts’ financial forecasts which project a total of £759m in funding gaps.

According to the Labour Party, that figure is three times higher than the comparable figure for 2014/15.

The region's most affected NHS foundation trusts is County Durham and Darlington which, according to Labour's figures, has seen a £3,89m surplus in 2013/14 reduced to a deficit of £10m projected for the current 2015/16 financial year.

North Tees and Hartlepool has seen a £2.7m surplus turn to £4.86 deficit, Gateshead has gone from a £736,000 deficit to one of £9.9m while the North East Ambulance Service has gone from a £1.296m surplus to a deficit of £3.7m.

The region's other NHS Trusts drowning in debt include York Teaching Hospital (surplus of £2.73m to deficit of £7.4m).

The figures were compiled from analysis carried out by NHS Providers.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “David Cameron has broken his promises on the NHS. He’s closed hospitals he said he would keep open, he’s allowed waiting times to rise when he said he would keep them low, and he’s wasted £3 billion on a top-down re-organisation which drives forward privatisation.

“Two thirds of hospitals face having to make swingeing cuts, not some point in the future, but this year because of a cash crisis made in Downing Street.”

Shadow health secretary Mr Burnham added: “The financial crisis in the NHS is biting this year, with patients seeing treatments rationed, services closed and hospitals without enough staff.

“Labour's first Budget will bring in a mansion tax to get the funds flowing into the NHS this year and next. The Tories’ extreme spending plans will put the NHS at risk.”