Campaigners thought they had saved Walnuttree Hospital

Closing Sudbury's Walnuttree Hospital is among proposals which health chiefs say will help cut �20m of debts run up by trusts in West Suffolk.

It comes seven months after managers gave the hospital �300,000 to meet fire regulations - allowing it to stay open.

Tim Treadwell, who has treatment at the hospital, said the new threat showed patients' needs were being ignored.

"The town is growing, there is a larger population and smaller facilities and it's disgraceful to do this," he said.

Government warning

"It is not caring about the public. It is not taking any notice of the population of Sudbury. Its needs are being ignored," he said.

The proposals come as the government has warned it would not be bailing out any health care trusts that got into debt.

Proposals to make saving in West Suffolk include closing all community beds in Sudbury and Newmarket hospitals and cutting jobs.

At the Bartlett Hospital in Felixstowe some beds could go, while the Felixstowe General is a candidate for closure and the minor injuries unit at Aldeburgh Hospital may close.

On Friday West Suffolk MP Richard Spring said he would be pushing for services to be maintained.

He said it was a disgrace that health care provision in the county should be cut back and dedicated hospital staff faced losing their jobs.

High-profile campaign

Last year the Walnuttree Hospital was under threat when it failed to meet fire safety regulations but was reprieved when managers set aside �300,000 for an upgrade.

Campaigners fighting to keep the former Victorian workhouse which provides special care for up to 68 elderly people mounted a high-profile Hands Off Our Hospital campaign, which included a lobby of 10 Downing Street and a 10,000-signature petition.

PCT chief executive Mike Stonard said the recommendations may not sit comfortably with staff, patients and members of the public but the debt, which grew by �9m in the past year, had to be brought under control.

The PCT board is due to consider the proposals on 29 June.