Managers have admitted that the overspend is predicted to reach �19.5m by the end of March, despite extensive cost-cutting measures.

The debt belongs to East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

However the whole trust has said it will work together to make further savings and patients are the priority.

Recovery plan accelerated

Tim Rideout, chief executive of West Lincolnshire PCT and acting chief executive of East Lincolnshire, explained that last year the Lincolnshire NHS overspent by �8m and this year's figure of �19.5m is more than double that amount.

He added: "This cannot be allowed to continue and the senior managers accountable for the NHS in Lincolnshire have a clear responsibility to deal with this problem.

"We aim to provide the highest possible quality of care for our patients and to do this, we must have a stable, sustainable and financially balanced NHS."

The financial recovery plan, which has been accelerated to tackle the debt, includes moves to improve access to diagnostic tests, lessening the need for a stay in hospital and reducing levels of staff sickness.