Published: Friday, 3rd July, 2009 11:28am

Question mark hangs over Haylodge beds

CONCERNS for the future of all of Haylodge Hospital"s 50 beds is growing.

NHS Borders enforced a seasonal reduction in the number of beds at the Peebles hospital last summer as part of a major cost-cutting exercise.

Health chiefs removed 11 of the 45 beds throughout last summer and autumn - only returning them for peak-time winter use.

A similar practice was again implemented this summer with the closure of the beds again.

But rumours circulating Haylodge suggest the wards will continue to operate with only 34 beds throughout the winter, and that it is likely the 11 lost beds won"t be replaced.

An insider told us: 'The staff are expecting confirmation within the next week or so that the beds won"t be opened up again for the winter.

'This has caused a lot of anger already and this latest development will only make matters worse.'

NHS Borders couldn"t confirm if any announcements were in the pipeline - and the relevant directors were unable to be contacted as we went to press.

As well as reducing Haylodge by 11 beds, local health bosses also closed Ward 14 at Borders General Hospital for the summer and slashed the number of beds at hospitals in Hawick, Duns and Kelso for the summer.