A 28 bed ward could close at the hospital

Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan look set to make the cuts as Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust, which manages the hospital, tries to save �11m.

The trust said it would not mean a reduction in services or operations but a "better use of our resources".

As part of the savings drive, 140 posts at the hospital are currently frozen.

The initial cutbacks would save �4m but the hospital faces a further shortfall of �7m by next April.

Ian Bellingham, executive director of operations at the hospital confirmed that Glan Clwyd was considering closing the surgical ward as part of a continuing cost-cutting programme.

It's not a reduction in services. It's making better use of our resources Ian Bellingham, Glan Clwyd Hospital

The ward would either be closed at weekends or altogether with some of the work taken up by a dedicated day case unit.

The children's surgical ward is also set to close at weekends.

Mr Bellingham said surgical wards were quieter at weekends and the hospital would save money on staffing costs.

However, he insisted the changes would not mean a reduction in operations or an increase in waiting times.

"It's not a reduction in services - it's making better use of our resources," he said.

Emergency situations

Mr Bellingham said the hospital will save money on staffing costs, such as using fewer nurses from agencies, and staff will be redeployed to other wards. He added that the changes would have "no impact on patient services".

However, he admitted that another outbreak like last winter's vomiting and diarrhoea bug, which saw an increase in admissions to surgical wards, "would cause problems for the trust".

"If there were emergency situations we would have to reconsider the issue and we would keep the ward open," he added.