The ambulance service has received additional funding

The Audit Commission says West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service NHS Trust (WYMAS) is in an "extremely precarious financial position."

Its problems are associated with its involvement in NHS Professionals, a service launched in November 2000 to provide temporary nurses and other staff to hospitals across England.

WYMAS was selected to help run the project because it had been successful in setting up a similar local service.

But tight deadlines for the roll out of the NHS Professionals scheme have caused financial difficulties.

'Significant progress'

District auditor Terry Carter said the ambulance service's involvement in NHS Professionals was "not properly planned."

"The trust is starting to take steps towards tackling many of the issues raised in the report.

"Some improvements in service are already being seen but much action remains to ensure appropriate controls and financial arrangements are implemented."

The service has secured additional funding from the Department of Health to cover the deficit for the current financial year.

It has recently been announced that NHS Professionals will be moved to a special health authority.

WYMAS said this would allow it to focus on delivering a "first class ambulance service to the people of Yorkshire."

Last month the service was criticised for falsely claiming ambulance response times to 999 calls met national targets.