FIFTY staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital face an uncertain future after bosses decided to reduce the number of beds.

They face an anxious wait to find out where they will be redeployed following the hospital's decision to dispense with 53 beds..

Hospital bosses are trying to keep hospital stays as short as possible, with more cases being treated on an out-patient basis.

A hospital spokesman said: "There is, therefore, no reduction in the service offered to patients and we will still be able to accommodate

all patients who present to the hospital as an emergency or who are referred to the hospital for an operation or procedure."

The bed cuts will be made by closing a surgical wardand a medical ward.

The spokesman said: "These changes in bed numbers,

together with a review of nursing roles within the Trust, will see around 50 staff displaced by September. Detailed discussions on proposals for dealing with the staff displaced by the closures, will be held with the relevant staff organisations during the coming weeks."

"The Trust intends to relocate or redeploy all permanent staff to other suitable positions. As appropriate, (it) will offer a voluntary severance scheme and early retirement options to avoid compulsory redundancies if at all possible."