Decision to cut hospital beds 'poor for patients'
House of Commons/Roger HarrisAn MP has criticised a decision to cut hospital beds amid a "significant financial challenge" faced by the trust running it.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is cutting 18 beds from wards in Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria, as well as four overnight beds the trust said were "rarely used".
Gynaecology patients needing overnight care will also be treated in en-suite side rooms. The trust said without change, it ran the risk of "not having the required money in the bank by January 2026".
Local Labour MP Michelle Scrogham said the trust's short-term actions were damaging work to deliver long-term improvements.
"I am not happy that the trust is making more short-term decisions to meet the ambitious end-of-year financial target they themselves set," she said.
She added the cuts would result in "poorer patient experience" and she had received messages from clinicians who were worried the changes would put the safety of patients at risk.
Phased closures are planned to start from 21 January and the trust said it would result in a £325,000 saving for the current financial year.
UHMBT said it had worked to increase the number of virtual beds - a new model designed to support patients in their own homes - as well as other measures to redirect patients to appropriate services.
A spokesman said: "The simple fact is that whilst the plans to reduce the bed base are the right ones, we ideally wouldn't be doing it during winter with the operational issues this period brings."
A further 24 beds are set to close at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, which is also managed by UHMBT.
The trust added no jobs would be lost as a result.
Scrogham said the government had helped the trust become more financially stable, after facing challenges in the past.
"The trust needs to think carefully about the long-term implications of decisions it makes, they will be held accountable," she said.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the government had provided "record investment" in the NHS.
A spokesperson said: "Whilst we expect all NHS trusts to be financially responsible and to maximise value for money for taxpayers, we will ensure those which require additional support get the help they need."
