Half of the latest £5.8bn (€7.1bn; $9.3bn) in efficiency savings made by the NHS in 2011-12 was the result of staff’s pay being frozen, MPs have heard.

More deep rooted transformational change in how the NHS operates and focuses its priorities has played only a small part in savings made so far, witnesses told MPs on the parliamentary select committee on health.

The committee, holding its first evidence session on 23 October as part of its inquiry into public expenditure, asked witnesses from the bodies that represent NHS and local government organisations how efficiency savings were being achieved, given that the NHS is expected …