HALTON Hospital’s surgical day unit has been shut in a bid to ease a shortage of beds at Warrington Hospital.

The consultant-led ward at the hospital trust’s Halton site was closed in December as a result of winter pressures at Warrington Hospital resulting in a lack of beds.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says that the unit has been shut temporarily as part of a merger with ward B4, with beds used for a range of surgical procedures at Halton Hospital moved to Warrington Hospital.

But doctors and nurses have expressed fears that Halton’s surgical day unit may not reopen.

Staff members say they were not consulted over the move and have described the situation as ‘organised chaos’, while some have been moved into other roles as part of the temporary merger.

One member of staff, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The unit has an excellent reputation as a friendly, happy ward.

“Many of the staff have worked here for up to 20 years – we’re worried about the effect this will have on patients.”

Sharon Gilligan, chief operating officer for Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said that the two wards regularly merge in order to ‘ensure that patients get the best possible experience’.

She added: “We have not closed any wards on our Halton site permanently.

“Over the Christmas period these areas did work together and in recognition of winter pressures, particularly on the acute Warrington site, we agreed to extend the merge until the end of January.

“The department of health requested that elective activity was reduced in order to provide adequate beds and staffing over the winter period.

“Combining surgical day case and B4 has allowed us to maintain emergency provision at the Warrington acute site whilst proceeding with urgent and cancer elective activity.

“This arrangement has allowed us to release staff to support the opening of our winter ward in Warrington, ensuring that all our patients are kept safe and well-cared for.”