The trust said it carried all the financial risk for adult social care with costs currently exceeding funding by around £35m per year.

‘We're proud of what our integrated model has achieved for local people and the Care Quality Commission's recent good rating for adult social care reflects the dedication of our teams,' said Joe Teape, chief executive of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

‘But the financial pressures are real and growing. We have a duty to balance our budget and deliver safe services for our population, not just today but for the long term. That's why our board is reviewing the Section 75 agreement. No decisions have been made yet and our priority remains continuity of care and support for our staff and communities.'

The trust said the review could lead to it giving 12 months' notice it was handing back the responsibility for delivering adult social to Torbay Council, mirroring arrangements across the rest of Devon.

Torbay Council has been asked for comment.