The trust is trying to save �15m

Last month Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust approved plans to axe 600 jobs - a third of its workforce - in an attempt to save �15m.

Unison said it now believed that figure could rise to 1,000 posts by 2010.

The trust, which runs hospitals in Scarborough and Bridlington, plans to close wards and reduce non-clinical support services to reduce its debt.

Unions including Unison, Unite, the GNB and Royal College of Nursing met on Thursday to discuss how to fight the planned cuts.

Ray Gray, from Unison, said: "There was a lot of concern from people. We need more details from the trust.

"At the moment everybody is worried about their jobs. The trust needs to tell them where it will introduce cuts so the people who are not going to lose their jobs can get on with their work.

"Figures we are now hearing say that close to 1,000 jobs will be lost over three years. That's 40% of the workforce.

"There's no way the trust can lose that amount of jobs and expect to still function."

A hospital trust statement said: "Nothing has changed and the Trust are working with staff, trade unions and others on the details of the financial strategy.

"These plans will be taken to the September board meeting and speculation in the meantime is inaccurate and unhelpful."