CONCERNS have been raised over staffing levels at a Pwllheli hospital after the health board temporarily reduced the number of inpatient beds from 25 to 16.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said, due to a lack of qualified staff, maternity leave and staff sickness, it had no choice but to reduce the number of beds at Ysbyty Bryn Beryl.

However, three nurses are expected to join the hospital in September and the health board is currently investigating when they will be able to re-open the beds.

Pwllheli town councillor, Jonathan Roberts, said the lack of beds available at the hospital is very worrying.

He said: “Betsi Cadwaladr must have known that at least some of the staff shortages were on the horizon, like maternity leave.

“So we have to ask the question as to whether they are doing enough to recruit staff to work at Bryn Beryl, or is closing the beds on a ‘temporary basis’ just a way of cutting costs and saving money at the expense of elderly and frail patients.

“This seems to happen every few years, usually during the winter when all hospitals are under enormous pressure, but at this time of year it does beg the question, is it a money saving operation?”

A statement from Delia Roberts, locality matron at Bryn Beryl, says a request for support from district nursing teams and surrounding community hospitals had failed to secure additional staffing to help on a temporary basis, as these areas are also experiencing staffing pressures.

It confirms that, between 25 July and 27 August, Llyn Ward, which had 13 inpatient beds, is down to eight and Dwyfor Ward, which had 12 beds, is also down to eight.

See the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News