Rochdale Infirmary loss of beds shock!

Date published: 22/03/2007

In another severe blow for Rochdale Infirmary, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has decided to cut the number of beds, this reduction is to be quite apart from the beds that will be lost due to the reconfiguration of services that is to result in the loss of Maternity. Twenty seven medicinal beds, wards as yet unknown, and ten women and children's beds are to go.

It is believed the Trust, who run Fairfield Hospital in Bury, Oldham Royal and North Manchester General as well as the Infirmary, are to make a statement soon and in that statement they will maintain that the cut in beds will not affect patient services and that there will be no job losses as staff will be redeployed. Critics are already cynical and believe this to be pure cost cutting to reduce the current financial deficit that will inevitably affect patients and are reserving judgment on whether or not there will be any job losses.