A LEADING surgeon at the Countess of Chester Hospital has calmed fears over bed reductions.

George Foster, also chairman of the Chester division of the British Medical Association, believes the winding down of Trinity ward and the loss of a dozen beds from Newgate ward shows the Countess is flexible enough to respond to changing circumstances.

Concerned staff believe the measures are a backward step.

But Mr Foster said: 'The demand on beds changes throughout the year. A hospital is a living thing. We had a particularly cold spell in March and more elderly people coming in as medical patients with chest infections because they cope less well.

'In summer people go away and we find our clinics are not as busy and we try to adapt by doing, perhaps, more surgery.

'I personally support flexibility of operation. It's good for nursing staff, it's good for the hospital as a whole. If we travel lighter we are able to adapt.'

Mr Foster said he had been told the 33-bed Trinity ward, a surgical unit dealing with ear, nose and throat, oral surgery, breast and plastic surgery patients, would not close for good.

'I have been reassured there are no long-term plans to wipe it off the map,' he said.

'And no plans to lay off staff.' The winding-down of Trinity ward is possible because more patients will be treated as day cases on other wards.

Breast cancer patients will be accommodated in the female only' gynaecology unit.

Countess management say changes will improve patient experience.

In addition, 12 beds are going from Newgate ward, a medical and haematology ward.

The Countess says the haematology beds will be protected, but the intention is for other patients to be treated in their own home, by their GP at a health centre.

Mr Foster believes bed reductions have sparked concern because of the current climate due to local Primary Care Trusts being in deficit.

He said the Countess achieved its clinical targets and in the last financial year had made a small surplus in difficult circumstances, because it was well run.