THE surgical day case unit at Halton Hospital has closed to help staff cope with the winter pressure on beds at Warrington Hospital.

The consultant-led ward shut down in December but worried doctors and nurses now fear it may never re-open.

Staff say there has been no consultation and they have been transferred to various other roles.

They say beds which were used for patients undergoing a range of surgical procedures have already been moved to Warrington.

Hospital bosses say the closure has been extended until the end of January as the day case unit has been temporarily merged with the surgical unit on ward B4.

One member of staff said: “There has been no consultation whatsoever.

“Many of the staff have worked here for up to 20 years.

“The unit has an excellent reputation as a friendly, happy ward.

“We’re worried about the effect this will have on patients.”

Another employee said: “It is ridiculous, organised chaos. Patients are having to wait for beds to become available.”

Staff say the unit was extensively refurbished two years ago and is very busy.

Sharon Gilligan, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust chief operating officer said: “We have not closed any wards on our Halton site permanently.

“Ward B4, our stand alone surgical unit, runs alongside our day case unit on the Halton site and they often merge at Christmas, Bank Holidays and in summer periods in recognition of staffing challenges and holiday arrangements.

“This is to ensure that staff work together to ensure that our elective patients at Halton get the best possible experience.

“Over the Christmas period these areas did work together and in recognition of winter pressures, particularly on the acute Warrington site, we agreed to extend the merge until the end of January.

“The Department of Health requested that elective activity was reduced in order to provide adequate beds and staffing over the winter period.

“Combining surgical day case and B4 has allowed us to maintain emergency provision at the Warrington acute site whilst proceeding with urgent and cancer elective activity.

“This arrangement has allowed us to release staff to support the opening of our winter ward in Warrington ensuring that all our patients are kept safe and well cared for.”

The hospital said there are sufficient beds on ward B4 for elective surgery and admission and staffing is reviewed on a daily basis.