A decision could be reached today on whether a new radiotherapy machine planned for Derriford hospital is affordable.

The Plymouth hospitals NHS Trust is already three and a half million pounds in deficit as of the end of February.

The cyberknife beams radiation into tumours, which can lessen the likelihood of invasive surgery for cancer patients.

The machine itself costs over two million pounds and the hospital also has to build a special bunker to house it costing more than a million pounds.

It's understood this may now be unaffordable for the hospital in the current climate - it will be discussed at a private meeting this afternoon.

Meanwhile GPs, councillors and public health officials could soon join a health board proposed for Plymouth.

Plymouth would be opting in early as part of government plans to hand over more power to doctors and local authorities - primary care trusts are to be scrapped.