A HOSPITAL trust that is deeply in debt has splashed out £1.2m in a bid to find out how they can CUT costs.
The Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which is £14m in the red, has spent the tax-payers' money on a cost-cutting review, in a move slammed by health unions as "bureaucratic madness".
This year the trust, which covers Dewsbury District Hospital, has slashed 450 jobs across three of its hospitals and is rated zero in league tables.
The so-called cost cutting move came in a bid to slash £18m from the trust's wages bill.
However, Unison representative for Pinderfields Hospital, Adrian O'Malley, said the spend was a scandalous waste of public money.
"We have members that have lost their jobs and there are staff shortages as people have not been replaced," he said.
"Staff at the Trust will be disgusted to learn this news."
Despite cutting more than 160 jobs by October, the Trust advertised for two managers to head the review into spending, with salaries in the region of £80,000.
But Dr David Dawson, the Trust's interim chief executive, said it was back on track.
"We plan to save £36m over the next two years," he said.
