Figures obtained exclusively by ITV Border have revealed that the troubled North Cumbria NHS Hospital Trust spent £8 million on locum doctors in the past year.
The Freedom Of Information request found that in the past three years 527 of the temporary medical staff have been employed at the hospitals in Carlisle and Whitehaven.
The highest paid locum consultant was paid £158 an hour.
The figures have been branded as 'astonishing' by West Cumbrian MP Jamie Reed, who is also a Labour shadow health minister.
He believes that unless the problem is dealt with swiftly, "it will make the sustainability of services even harder".
In the past three years, the expenditure on locum doctors has varied wildly, with a significant rise in the past year.
North Cumbria NHS Trust expenditure on locum doctors:
2010 – 2011: £5.8 million
2011 – 2012: £4.95 million.
2012 – 2013: £7.96 million
Although total expenditure on locum doctors has risen, the hourly rates have actually fallen.
Highest hourly rates of pay for locum doctors:
2011 - £158.13 – Consultant Dermatologist.
2012 - £143.75 – Consultant Radiologist.
2013 - £112.95 – Consultant Gastro Medicine.
The trust are expected to comment on the figures later today.
The council has promised to implement a number of changes to provide better leadership and financial management.
It has pledged to restructure the social work services management team and has agreed to set up an internal but independent group to scrutinise social services from now on.
Other measures include cost control procedures, retraining of managers in organising budgets and better use of information systems.
Managers will also be told to communicate better with social workers.
The independent audit by Price Waterhouse Cooper conducted last year showed a number of problems.
Auditors uncovered several flaws and weaknesses including spending plans being set based on historic and unreliable information and ineffective team co-operation between the social work director John Alexander and his managers.
The report also highlighted concerns that there were only three people from finance monitoring 50people with budget responsibilities.
Dumfries and Galloway council admit 'serious problems'
Dumfries and Galloway Council headquarters Credit: ITV News Border
Dumfries and Galloway Council has admitted serious problems in its social work department after a report highlighted concerns over its financial management.
The audit found its budget has been mismanaged leading to a huge overspend.
The projected overspend is £760,000, and it would have been more but councillors had already agreed earlier to an extra £600,000.
Accountancy technicians will be brought in to help sort out the problem, either from the council's own finance department or an external consultant.
