 Wards at the Edenbridge Hospital were recently refurbished |
Beds at four community hospitals in west Kent, including one refurbished just a year ago, are being cut in an attempt to save money. The measure, described as short-term, is being taken at Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Hawkhurst and Edenbridge.
South West Kent Primary Care Trust said it had little option if it was to break even in this financial year.
Dr Andrew Russell, of the League of Friends at Edenbridge Hospital, said he feared patients would suffer.
Bank nurses
He blamed underfunding by the Department of Health which had "underestimated a whole raft of expenditures in the last few years, which have come in way above their estimates".
"The government refuses to bale out primary care trusts or other trusts that are in debt," he said.
South West Kent Primary Care Trust said the cuts would save on the expense of buying in bank nurses.
It has stressed that the units will reopen and that the long-term future of the community hospitals is secure.
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