More than a hundred junior doctors have started training as part of a hospitals trust's attempt to cut costs and raise care standards.

The 117 doctors are embarking upon their two-year foundation programme at King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen's Hospital in Romford after leaving medical school.

The recruitment by Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust is part of an improvement plan following criticisms of standards of care at the hospitals.

The trust is also trying to reduce a debt of £40million and was recently referred to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over concerns about its financial strategy. 

The trust says the recruitment is aimed at reducing costly temporary staff.

Ursalan Khan, a specialist trainee in Neurosurgery at Queen’s said: “I feel lucky to be working at Queen’s. I am committed to improving and learning as much as I can. This is what I’ll be doing for the next seven years.”

Chris Hogan, a second year foundation doctor working in Geriatics at King George Hospital, said: “I am very excited to be working in such a prestigious area.”