HEALTH Care workers are worried that the closure of Sims Ward at Newton Community Hospital over winter may put elderly people in the town at risk.

One contacted the Star, angry at the closure of the fifteen-bed ward.

"I think it's disgusting!" said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous.

"I found out just last Wednesday that it's definitely closing. How many elderly people get sick at this time of year."

"Now they'll have to go to the Accident and Emergency and all the care workers will now have to work in Whiston or St Helens. Fifteen staff will have to go."

She said that by this Sunday (November 30), they were looking to close, once the last patient had gone.

"They are closing it at the most important time of the year. Local doctors can't believe it," she said.

Bill Berry from public service union UNISON said; "We would be concerned to learn about proposed temporary closures. Our experience is that they tend to become permanent."

"There are occasions when management have used the provision to have a temporary closure because the requirements to consult are not as permanent."

Dr Robin Macmillan, Medical Director of the St Helens and Knowsley Hospital Trust said: During the winter months there is always an increase in the number of acutely ill patients requiring urgent hospital treatment. The year may be particularly busy because of the impact of the flu virus."

"The trust has to forward plan to ensure that it has the necessary staff and resources in place to cope with the increased acute activity."

"In previous years the trust has temporarily closed some beds at Newton Hospital and redeployed the staff. This has proved to be successful and it is our intention to do the same this year so that we can care for our most acutely ill patients in a safe and appropriate manner."

The trust was keen to emphasise to the community that the ward will be reopening at the end of March.