West Middlesex Hospital bosses insist services will not be affected after it emerged they are set to miss a government deadline for foundation status.

West Mid is one of 12 in London not on course to apply to become foundation trusts by December 2010.

The change in status is designed to give hospital bosses more financial independence and the local community a greater say in the day-to-day running.

There are concerns hospitals failing to meet the deadline will be unable to compete with the new foundation trusts and could be taken over.

A West Mid spokesman said it would be unable to apply for foundation trust status by the end of next year due to ongoing financial problems, but was hoping to apply the following year.

The trust ended the last financial year £17 million in the red.

"This does not affect the care delivered at the hospital," he added. "We will continue to provide the best possible treatment to patients in the local community as patient care is our number one priority."

A spokesman for NHS London said it was 'highly unlikely' any hospitals in the capital would be taken over by other trusts.

He added that a number of hospitals are expected to become foundation trusts after 2010