Hospital beds may go to cut debts

Hospital beds could close and health visitor and district nurse posts may be cut to cut costs in Stoke-on-Trent.

North Stoke and South Stoke primary care trusts (PCTs) are trying to find ways to wipe out their £8m debts.

Plans also include reducing services at the Haywood Community Hospital and Longton Cottage Hospital and urging GPs to write cost-effective prescriptions.

The PCTs' chief executive Mike Ridley said it needs to balance the books, but added the cuts should be temporary.

The two trusts started the year about £14m in debt and have managed to save £6m so far.

'Not overstretched'

Mr Ridley said patients should not miss out on treatment they need as there will still be a health-visiting service and beds at the hospitals.

"I think it is more likely they will face delays at the present time," he said.

"We're taking savings round the edges at the present time.

"We just need to be sensitive to our staff as well and make sure they are not overstretched."

He said that some of the plans were already being brought in because of staff shortages caused by a vacancy freeze at the beginning of the year.

The rest of the savings proposals will be considered by the two trust boards at their next meetings this month.

Mr Ridley said the Strategic Health Authority and the PCTs' auditors have demanded "speedy progress" in reducing and then eliminating their debts.