HEALTH chiefs have halted plans to shut beds at the Royal Bolton Hospital after one the its busiest ever summers.

The increasing number of patients admitted to hospital are filling wards to capacity, meaning that bed closures cannot go ahead.

Five beds used for day case surgery shut in August as part of an ongoing plan to shift care out of hospital and into the community.

A total of 28 beds were shut in May as part of a move to save £800,000 and speed up the assessment and discharge of patients.

A further 14 were due to shut in one of the adult acute ward, but bosses say they will not close until admissions level off.

Andy Ennis, chief operating officer at the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said the rise in admissions reflected a regional trend.

Mr Ennis: “Bed closures are part of our long-term plan. It is about better care and improving provision in our community-based services.

“We closed some beds last year and some of the start of this year.

“The trust is planning to reduce the bed base in medicine. However, I am not happy we have the capacity to do that at the moment.

“That is always the caveat we take. We will not remove beds unless it is safe to do so.

“And at the moment we are very busy and it has put pressure on us. It’s starting to ease off now, but it’s something all hospitals in the area have seen.”

The number of admissions is up by 10 per cent compared to last year’s summer.

The Healthier Together review — a radical shake-up of hospital services in Greater Manchester — supports the shift to community care.

However, the ward closures are part of the Royal Bolton’s five-year plan to drive down costs.

The average cost of running a ward is about £1 million a year.

Su Long, chief officer at NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “The group has a responsibility to ensure that any cost savings made by the trust do not affect patient care and safety.

“We are working with the trust to understand and manage current pressures that are preventing the planned closure of hospital beds.

“The CCG’s overall aim for healthcare in Bolton is to provide more care in the community to support people at home and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.”