In the second tribunal, it is claimed bosses at the trust pushed through controversial rota changes for consultant surgeons which reduced the number of “safe” consultants on call and put patients at risk.

Krish Singh, the former clinical director for general surgery, alleged the changes were made for “financial reasons”.

He was demoted in 2019 due to what the trust claimed were “performance and other issues”.

Mr Singh alleges the decision had been made while he was on holiday.

In a statement, the trust said: “The trust will vigorously contest these claims at the Employment Tribunals, which we are keen take place at the earliest opportunity so they can be examined properly and fairly.

“Dismissing anyone, or removing someone from a leadership role, is an absolute last resort and we would always seek to avoid this outcome if possible.

“In both of these cases, due process was followed, and we are confident we did the right things, in the right way, for the benefit of our patients, their care and safety.”

The trust previously said its main priority was delivering “safe and effective care”, that data does not reflect allegations of unnecessary deaths and that there was no evidence of a top-down toxic culture.

Additional reporting by Emily O’Sullivan