The trust ran up a deficit of nearly �30m in the last financial year

The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Crawley and Redhill hospitals, had a deficit for the last financial year of nearly �30m.

The cuts were approved on Friday, with new hospital management saying they were necessary.

A Unison spokesman said it was vital the union had a say in how they were managed, especially in sensitive areas.

Senior management left the trust after it racked up debts, received a zero score in the star rating scheme and attracted criticism for its handling of accident and emergency care.

I know that recruitment can sometimes be difficult but it shouldn't be that difficult Interim chief executive Anthony McKeevor

Interim chief executive Anthony McKeevor, who has been working at the trust for three months, said changes included recruiting a new permanent, management team including a new chief executive.

The trust also intends to cut the amount of money spent on agency nurses.

After the savings were approved at a board meeting on Friday, Mr McKeevor said: "It's been spending in excess of �20m a year on temporary staffing, that's far too much, more than any other hospital I know.

"I know that recruitment can sometimes be difficult but it shouldn't be that difficult and that's what we're looking to put right."

Unison spokesman Phil Wood said: "These are cuts in sensitive areas, in surgery, in medical care and emergency care.