More than half of Britain's NHS trusts are facing financial problems, the Conservatives have claimed.

The party's shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox released figures on Monday suggesting that 23 out of 40 NHS hospital trusts are forecasting a deficit this year.

Collated from minutes of trust board meetings and press coverage, the Conservatives said the figures show the government's massive injection of cash is failing to get through.

"These figures paint a truly bleak picture. The figures are much worse still when compared with last year," said Fox.

He claimed deficits from the previous year will have to be cleared from current budgets leading to reductions in services.

"These figures confirm yet again that despite the high increases in taxation and spending the financial situation of many hospitals has worsened," Fox said.

However, the Tory claims were disputed by the Department of Health.

"There are over 600 NHS organisations in England but this survey only focuses on 40 (6.6 per cent) of these, with data taken from local press coverage," said a spokesman.

"Forecast information indicates the NHS achieved overall financial balance last year and the vast majority of NHS organisations have returned financially balanced plans for this year, but it is far too early to be speculating on forecast year end figures.

"The NHS across the board continues to receive unprecedented levels of investment. From this year the NHS has been and will be given three-year budgets so that they can plan services with certainty to increase capacity over the long term."

Official figures will be published this autumn.