£1.8 million spent on agency staff for the trust

However, the trust has refuted the claims.

Sources at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust claimed agency staff are being used so the trust can show the department of health it has reduced the number of administration and clerical staff 'on paper'.

The sources have claimed the trust is actually spending more money on agency staff and overtime than it would cost to employ permanent staff.

Figures released to the 'MAIL', under the Freedom of Information Act, show the trust has spent almost 1.8million on admin agency staff in the last two financial years.

The figures show, in the financial year 2008/9, the trust spent 1.2m on agency staff to carry out clerical and admin duties, more than double the 582,000 spent in the previous year.

In the same years the trust spent nearly 40m on employing clerical and admin staff in 2008/9. Compared to 35m the previous year.

In the answer the Trust said the reason for the increase was partly due to an average wage increase of 2.75 per cent and the rise in employer's contribution to the pension scheme.

Furthermore the trust spent 396,000 on overtime for permanent admin staff in 2008/9 and 242,000 in 2007/8.

The department of health's work force census of March 2009 said clerical staff numbers were to be cut because of the Review of Public Administration.

It stated: "This group of staff has been affected by the Review of Public Administration over the last few years with growth of numbers being curbed between 2005 and 2007, before decreasing in 2008 and 2009."

The trust has refuted the claims it is hiding staff costs from the department of health.

A Trust spokeswoman said: “The Trust recognises the need to balance the provision of high quality services with tight financial constraints.

"During periods of temporary staff shortage it may be necessary to use agency staff to provide short term cover for essential services when there is no other viable alternative.

“The Southern Trust was formed during 07/08 following the merger of all four legacy Trusts in the area.

"During this period, staffing levels were reduced in line with requirements under the Review of Public Administration. Given the scale of changes at the time, expenditure on agency staffing during this year could not be viewed as typical.

“Expenditure the following year presents a more accurate reflection of the total amount which would have been spent in legacy Trusts on agency admin and clerical staff.

"As the Trust continued to restructure, the use of agency staff as a temporary solution allowed the Trust to ensure that duplication was avoided whilst reducing and stabilising its staffing compliment.

“During this period, the use of agency staff enabled the Trust to work in a more flexible and efficient manner whilst still meeting service requirements."

She said the main reasons for using agency included, among other reasons, covering sickness, helping to meet targets and the extra workload because of an increase in patients.

The spokeswoman added: "Looking forward, given the extremely difficult financial environment facing health services, the Trust is continuing to review agency usage as sustainable solutions are put in place."