Efforts to transform patient services could be put on hold if trusts are asked by NHS England to find more efficiencies to help 'get a grip' of financial and operational challenges.

Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive, NHS Providers, said:

"NHS trusts have been through their toughest ever financial year as budgets and services are stretched to the limit in the face of mounting demand and pressure. This latest request from NHS England could mean trusts needing to tighten belts even more by scaling back or stopping services and shedding staff. 

"With the new financial year just weeks away, trusts need certainty and realistic plans confirmed as soon as possible. They are working extremely hard already to improve productivity and on track to find more savings in the year ahead but times are tough after years of underfunding and severe staff shortages right across hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services.

"Government and NHS England will need to back any trade-offs needed to be made locally if these extra savings are to be found. Despite a very welcome Budget boost for the NHS from the government trusts are still feeling the pinch, having to find unprecedented efficiency savings with very few resources in reserve to meet more demands.

"Trust leaders always do everything they can to make the most of every pound that goes into services but it is getting harder and harder to find required savings while working hard to transform services, reduce waiting lists, give people first-class care and see patients as quickly as possible."