11:01am Wednesday 27th December 2006
By Dee Adcock
BEDS are being axed at Dorset County Hospital as bosses claim that changes in arrangements mean more patients can be cared for in their own homes.
Ten medical care beds are to be closed on the 29-bed Barnes Ward at the flagship hospital in Dorchester.
Some staff are being moved to other wards after the reduction comes in.
The West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust has ruled out job losses but the Unison union claimed that the decision would worry staff over Christmas and New Year - and warned against any reduction in services.
A trust spokesman said: "This is a phased closure over eight weeks and is a result of the work we are doing in improving access to emergency services.
"Because of this work, we don't need as many medical beds.
"It allows people to be cared for in their own homes with the right level of support, which is more beneficial for patients."
Work was undertaken with Dorset County Council, primary care, GPs and the ambulance service as part of the scheme to allow the reduction.
The trust spokesman added: "There are no redundancies as a result of this reduction in beds.
"All staff are being relocated, according to their skills and expertise, to other wards.
"We will be carefully monitoring the impact of the closures to ensure there is no detrimental effect on patients."
Staff at the £45 million hospital in Williams Avenue said they had received letters informing them of the decision.
Unison, which represents many staff employed at the hospital, has hit out at the timing of the closure but vowed to work with the trust.
Bill McMillan, who is the senior regional adviser for Unison, said: "We obviously regret the timing of this since it will worry staff and the public at Christmas.
"We expect the trust to work with us to avoid any closures or reduction in the level of services to the public."
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