The hospital's overspending could lead to a health crisis

The cuts are partly to make up for a multi-million pound overspend at Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH).

But the local health watchdog says the primary healthcare trust is dealing with the RUH's �26m debts by running up a further �7m overspend this year.

It fears there are not enough staff to treat patients at home or nursing homes if, as proposed, 10 beds are cut from Keynsham Clinic and 12 beds go from St Martin's and Paulton hospitals nearby.

Plans are also in place to close casualty units and beds in community hospitals throughout West and North Wiltshire.

Nick Westbrook of the Community Health Council said: "They were relying on using private and voluntary sector beds for residential and nursing homes.

'Financial problem'

"We know there is a shortage of those beds at the moment and they are also wanting to move services out into the community.

"That's a good thing, but it's heavily dependent on having nurses and therapists available.

"We know that there's a shortage of those at the moment and we know it's going to get worse."

Rhona MacDonald of the Bath and North East Somerset Primary Health Care Trust said: "We have a financial problem in the health community. We're spending more money on local services than we have and not just the Royal United Hospital.

"The whole health community is trying to work together to solve the problems and the solutions we are looking at are not about cutting services, they're actually about providing services differently."