Earlier cuts to save money provoked an angry reaction

The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has admitted that even when its �17.5m debt is paid off it will still have to save about �28m next year.

With staffing at current levels, the trust will overspend at the rate of nearly �2.5m a month.

Acting Chief Executive Helen Scott-South said the number of job losses will be "significant".

It is shocking for us, shocking for our members and it should be a shock to the people of Lincolnshire Peter Savage, Unison

She added: "There will be quite a lot (of redundancies) but if I state a number today then I would be stating a number that would not be accurate.

"We need to be very clear on out facts and very clear about what the future plan is and we need to make sure we talk to our partner organisations before we make any decisions."

Peter Savage, regional officer for Unison, said: "We have been meeting regularly with management throughout this situation and for this to suddenly come out is very shocking.

"It is shocking for us, shocking for our members and it should be a shock to the people of Lincolnshire.

"Our concern is this will have its greatest impact in the more outlying areas of the county and we will be looking at how to respond."