East Cheshire Trust will need to cut costs by 8 per cent this year

The demanding savings target is double the 4 per cent efficiency savings target built into the pricing of the tariff for NHS services next year.

The plan states that the additional 4 per cent savings target - £7m in cash terms – comes from the need for the trust to align its “income/cost base relative to agreed service reductions”.

It adds that the savings target is “subject to final agreement of contracts with commissioners” and represents a “significant challenge to the organisation”.