The news follows Unison analysis earlier this month which revealed that NHS trusts plan to cut 20,000 jobs by 2028 after recording a combined deficit of more than £1.1bn last year.

A Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said it was facing ‘very real financial pressures'.

A board report last month revealed a gap between income and expenditure in 2025/26 of £33.7m.

The trust has also served notice it is handing back social care to the local council after costs increased by around 48% over the past three years.

The spokesperson added: ‘During the past three years we have taken significant steps to deliver savings and efficiencies, including working collaboratively with partners to share financial, procurement, agency and people services, introduced new ways of working, improving urgent and emergency care and investing in technology such as our new electronic patient record.'

The trust said the majority of its funding was spent on staffing, adding: ‘The decision to introduce a time limited voluntary redundancy scheme has not been taken lightly and follows similar action by providers in Devon and across the country.'

The scheme runs from 20 April to 10 May.