Health chiefs are slimming down two departments at the West Suffolk Hospital in a bid to meet a funding shortfall.Bosses at the Bury St Edmunds hospital yesterday announced a more “streamlined” and “efficient” experience for orthopaedic and gynaecological patients.

Health chiefs are slimming down two departments at the West Suffolk Hospital in a bid to meet a funding shortfall.

Bosses at the Bury St Edmunds hospital yesterday announced a more “streamlined” and “efficient” experience for orthopaedic and gynaecological patients.

The cutbacks, which will save around £600,000 and help reduce a £1.27m deficit, will see a reduction in beds and a focus on more day surgery cases.

An improved discharge service and a scheme to support certain patients who wish to administer their own intravenous injections will help avoid overnight stays and free up bed space.

People who still need a short inpatient stay will be treated in a restructured ward. The gynaecological inpatient service, currently running from the 21 bed F10 ward, will move to a new dedicated seven bed unit on ward F12.

In addition, the orthopaedic surgery service on ward F4 will reduce from 33 to 21 beds.

The changes are part of a £2.45m savings programme to reduce the NHS Trust's debts as well as improve working practices, and meet government waiting targets for appointments and treatment.

Further reductions include a planned decommissioning of a ward at the West Suffolk Hospital, which was announced in May.

Chief executive Chris Bown said the cuts would not impact on patient care.

“We have been freezing posts and managing our vacancies to minimise the impact on staff and it is our intention to redeploy as many members of staff as possible. A staff consultation about the changes started this week and we have also been talking with trade union representatives,” he said.