Two wards are closing at a Norfolk hospital, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced wide-ranging NHS reforms including more patients being cared for in the community.
The 30-bed Castleacre Ward has closed at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in King's Lynn, where the 33-bed Elm Ward is also closing at the end of the month.
Both are non-acute wards, meaning their beds are used by recovering patients - frequently elderly people - who could be discharged to care homes or their own homes to be looked after.
It comes amid growing uncertainty over whether a new hospital will be built to replace the crumbling QEH by 2030, as promised by the previous government.
The latest shake-up is not related to ongoing issues at the 500-bed hospital, whose concrete roof is held up by thousands of supports to prevent it from collapsing.
It also comes as prime minister Keir Starmer announced wide-ranging NHS reforms, including moving more care from hospitals into the community.
"This 10-year plan has to be the moment that we change that, the moment we begin to turn our national health service into a neighbourhood health service," he said.
He added that meant not paying for patients to be "stuck in hospital" when they could be cared for at home.
A QEH spokesman said it could not say at this stage how much money might be saved by the move.
Simon Illingworth, the hospital's chief operating officer, said: "Patients who no longer require acute hospital care are best placed to continue their care within the community, or at home, which is better for their health and reduces the risks associated with extended hospital stays.
"We have sourced additional capacity in the community for these patients to continue their care."
Mr Illingworth said all staff on the affected wards had been successfully redeployed. But fewer shifts would need to be covered by bank (temporary) staff.
Some temporary staff have taken to social media saying the move has left them struggling.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel