GPs fear some of their services could suffer and patients lose out because of the financial crisis at Bradford's hospitals.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital, is facing a year-end deficit of £11.3 million. It is expected to reveal details of the second phase of a recovery plan later this month.

But GPs are concerned if local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) - which oversee GPs and dental services - are forced to financially "prop up" the trust, the specialist services they provide could lose out. Dr John Givans, secretary of Bradford's Local Medical Committee, which represents GPs in the area, said no specific problems were being raised at the moment but there is concern the debt could take money away from GP services.

He said: "We have no indication there is a problem for primary care at the moment. But if the PCTs were called upon to pay an increased amount then that would impact on other services."

Bradford district is covered by four PCTs: Bradford City Teaching PCT, South and West PCT, North Bradford PCT and Airedale PCT.

"Each is allocated a different amount of money," said Dr Givans. "That's what they have to spend on everything - they have to decide what they spend on hospital services, community services and primary care. What we do not know at the moment is if there is going to be any increased bill over and above that which is anticipated for hospital services. If there is, we would be concerned it could affect primary care."

Bradford North GP Dr Brian Karet said: "GP services are safe in Bradford North PCT but there is apparently a deficit between the PCT and the hospitals' Trust. That could impinge on GP services because of money allegedly owed by the PCT to the acute Trust."

He claimed there was a ban on recruitment at Bradford North and that departing staff were not being replaced. However, the PCT denied this.

Concern has also been raised by the King's Fund, an independent charitable foundation which aims to improve health. Its fellow in policy, Dr Richard Lewis, said: "There's only a certain amount of money to go round so a deficit in one part of the system is a concern to other parts of the system."

Dr Lewis stressed core GP services are commissioned though a different contract and are not under threat but specialist services could suffer.

"The PCTs do not have to bail the hospital out," he said. "However, the PCTs want to have viable successful hospitals in their area and seeing a hospital go down the pan is not of anyone's benefit.

"A tough rescue plan is being put in place for the hospitals and the PCTs will come under pressure to fund that."

North Bradford PCT said it was confident GP services would not be hit.

Finance director Jonathan Coulter said: "In North Bradford we have an excellent record of providing high-quality patient care. Our future plans include further development of our Primary Care services, including specialist services such as our ear, nose and throat clinic at Eccleshill."

Neither Bradford South and West nor Bradford City PCTs were willing to comment.