A report into a troubled hospitals trust has revealed it only had 75 per cent of the staff it required just three months ago, with staff still reporting problems meeting demand.

Figures from June, released yesterday by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT), show staff levels were up to 91.75% in July.

BHRUT, which runs King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital in Romford, is currently in special measures with a debt of around £40 million.

It was previously criticised for poor standards of care, which the trust blamed on a struggle to recruit doctors, especially in A&E.

The figures, realised to coincide with trust’s Annual General Meeting, highlighted ongoing issues regarding staffing.

It said: “Incidents continue to be reported which relate to a shortfall in nursing/midwifery staff, these relate to non availability of staff.

“Non filling of in house bank shifts is a common occurrence.

“Shifts had been registered as being needed in an appropriate time frame. However there were no staff available to work.

“There were also incidents reported where the acuity on the ward was higher than expected and staff felt that there were insufficient numbers working to deal with the high demand of the ward.”

The AGM was held yesterday at King George Hospital.

Redbridge council’s deputy leader and cabinet member of health and well being, Wes Streeting, said: "There is a crisis in quality of care and level of staffing across the NHS and locally we are seeing this in stark terms in our local trust.

"It is clear to me that under the new leadership the trust is working hard to turn the situation around with a real dedication.

"The trust is being honest about the difficulties and we will be working closely with it and help in any way we can."

BHRUT has vowed to cut its debt in half by the end of the next financial year and has said expensive temporary staff will be cut.

The A&E department at King George had been earmarked for closure next year, but the health secretary Jeremy Hunt postponed the deadline indefinitely in May until standards across the trust were raised.

The Guardian is awaiting further detail from BHRUT on how the money will be saved.