The experts had found extra savings of �2m

The statistics have been released under the Freedom of Information Act. The trust is cutting 1,000 jobs to reduce debts of �15m.

It said the costs were incurred by using a financial turnaround team imposed by the Department of Health.

The team had identified savings of �2m safeguarding 60 jobs, a spokesman said.

The figures showed The University Hospitals of North Staffordshire NHS Trust spent �90,000 up until April this year and nearly �250,000 this year on external financial experts.

The trust spokesman said the spending was for the team of financial consultants who spent four months at the trust looking at ways of cutting the debt.

"We spent �300,000 and the consultants found �2m in non-staff savings each year, which was pretty good value," said the spokesman.

"The saving have been made in areas like procurement which means we don't have make those savings by reducing the amount of staff.