Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group has allocated more than half a million pounds to pay for risks associated with the performance and financial position of Royal Bolton Hospital.

The CCG has set aside £669,000 to cover any penalties the hospital may incur after it previously missed a number of Government performance targets.

Dr Wirin Bhatiani, CCG chair, said the group is “aware there are some performance issues” but is working with the hospital to help make improvements.

The CCG called a meeting with hospital chiefs after Monitor, the independent health watchdog, published a report criticising its management.

In the meeting, reassurances were requested by the CCG’s board that everything was being done to address performance issues. Commissioners now say they will now work alongside the Trust to ensure targets are achieved in the future.

The hospital had failed to meet the Government’s 18-week waiting time target for treatment between April 2011 and April 2013. The A&E target was also not achieved. However, the hospital says both of these targets are now being met.

“We are working alongside them every step of the way,” said Dr Bhatiani. “We are aware there are some performance issues causing concern and areas that need work, but we have seen significant improvement in the last two months in many of these areas.”

NHS Bolton Commissioning Group has been asked to confirm its strike arrangements following concerns from local residents about the 24 hour industrial action.

Doctors have confirmed a 24 hour strike will take place on June 21 in protest at the Government’s NHS pension plans and will cancel all routine appointments.

Councillor Andy Morgan, Bolton’s Conservative deputy leader and health spokesman, said local residents needed “clarification” to “know what is happening”.

Cllr Morgan has asked the CCG to confirm whether access to urgent care and GP’s surgeries will be closed across the region claiming that “people are worried”.

He also asked whether guidance will be given to local residents and community care teams before the strike should any emergency occur and questioned whether cancelled appointments will be rescheduled.

“I think the arrangements should have been made clearer from the start,” he said.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said strike action was being taken “very reluctantly” after the Government back-tracked on the deal agreed on pensions four years ago.

Last week, GPs said they were considering withdrawing their involvement in the development of clinical commissioning groups across England in protest over the pension reforms.