In all 121 staff have been given compulsory redundancy

The University Hospitals of North Staffordshire NHS Trust needs to cut 1,000 posts to recoup debts of �15m.

The trust's general meeting was told that more than 500 posts had already been taken out of the organisation.

Compulsory redundancy has been given to 121 hospital staff but that may rise to meet the target, managers said.

The meeting was told that 370 posts had been lost through natural wastage, 62 through voluntary redundancy and 121 staff would go through compulsory redundancy by Christmas.

"We will continue vacancy management to take out posts through natural wastage," said a hospital spokesman.

"There has also been another round of voluntary redundancy, and we're considering volunteers from that at the moment.

"This may mean a few more compulsory redundancies but no where near the number we first feared."

The trust originally predicted up to 750 staff could face compulsory redundancy.