Epsom Hospital has slashed the number of beds available for general medicine by 34. Croft ward which had 25 beds dedicated to caring for the elderly, closed on Monday, October 17, to make way for an infectious disease ward.

Staff at Croft ward have been transferred to Alexandra ward, which will now specialise in the elderly, with 29-beds.

At the same time, the trust has allocated £742,000 to fund a new team of six doctors to reduce the length of time patients stay in hospital.

It is also working more closely with social services to ensure a swift discharge of patients whose care will continue at home.

As a result of these changes it has felt able to cut 34 general medicine beds and mothball Croft ward.

Trust chief executive, Matthew Hopkins, said: "This isn’t about reducing the numbers of patients we see, or reducing the level of care we are providing.

"This is about improving the way we do things and making sure that each and every one of our patients gets the very best from us.

"We would absolutely never discharge a patient before they were ready to leave hospital.

"The fact is, we simply do not need that number of beds at the moment, and there is no point in staffing empty beds.

"If it so happens that during winter, we become increasingly busy and we need more beds, we will of course re-think our plans and perhaps revert Croft to its former capacity.

"However, that’s not the case at the moment, and our specialty care of the elderly ward - with its dedicated team of staff - can fit easily into their new location."

John Green, 67, from Epsom and a regular patient at the hospital, said: "I think, given that we are due to hear what the new situation is going to be in November, they should have left things untiL then.

"Personally I hope that they are going to embed thorough help and support in the community."

For more information visit epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk