Frontline jobs will go under the knife at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals as the trust plans to lose 29 nurses over the next three years.

The Chertsey hospital will also lose 272 other members of its workforce between now and 2014, according to figures released in a report.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warned the cuts would have implications on the remaining staff’s workload as well as the hospital’s ability to deliver care.

Speaking about the impact of cuts nationally, which will see 4,429 nursing jobs go across the country, an RCN spokesman said: “The RCN is concerned, as the frontline is not being protected, despite Government assurances.

"We know savings need to be made but cutting frontline staff and services is not the way to do it.

"We are concerned the result will be patients left in limbo, fewer services, fewer nurses and a worse NHS."

An Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals spokesman said the number of nurses working on wards would be increased to 18 over the next year.

But, by 2015, nursing and midwifery posts would drop by 29 out of the current total of 1,399 as “more healthcare is provided closer to home and in community settings.”

He said: “We expect these to be made through natural turnover, not redundancy.”

In a joint statement Raj Bhamber, the trust’s director of workforce and organisational development, and Ian Shrimpton, chairman of staff side, said they had a commitment to put patients first.

Dominic Raab MP said: “Funding for Surrey PCT will rise by 2.6 per cent in 2011-12. The government is delivering extra investment despite the enormous financial pressures because of the deficit.

“But the NHS needs reform.”