HOSPITAL beds are to be cut as NHS Fife seeks to plug a £30.8million gap in its 2016/17 budget.

Figures disclosed at the Fife NHS Board meeting on Tuesday showed the gap rising to an anticipated £42m next year and £49m in 2018/19. It also revealed a £11.1m shortfall for the newly-formed Fife Health and Social Care Partnership.

Director of finance Chris Bowring reported: “All measures to deliver savings toward the £30.8m in 2016/17 will reduce the pressure in future years.”

Proposals for £19.2m of savings have already been identified and include bed reduction in acute services, as well as cuts to security staff, laundry, catering, consultants and nursing.

Service change proposals include incorporating the elderly and vascular wards at Victoria Hospital, which could potentially save £700,000 this year.

However, the report acknowledged that this would rely on a “demonstrable and sustainable delivery of a 72-hour turnaround within community services to support any bed reductions within the Victoria Hospital”.

It also proposes bringing specific services onto a single site, potentially saving £250,000.

The report highlighted national initiatives which could save between £10.8m and £24.4m, which include achieving reduced lengths of stay, potentially preventable admissions and improving theatre productivity. Further considerations include potential voluntary redundancy.

Ms Bowring added: “At this stage, there remains a gap of £11.6m and work will continue to identify how this might be addressed both through further local initiatives and the balance sheet options being considered nationally.”

Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley said the cuts would have “an absolutely devastating impact on Fife”. He said: “We keep talking about bed-blocking and now there could be a reduction the number of beds.

“If you have a target to get so many people out of hospital by a particular date, without money available that target will be meaningless.”

Mr Rowley added: “I will be asking about transparency and having discussions with the trade unions so we know what the true state of NHS Fife’s finances are.”

An NHS Fife spokesperson said: “Work has been ongoing over recent months to identify areas where savings can be made.

"Although this work is in its early stages, the board will be working in partnership with our staff to develop these into more detailed plans which not only maintain and enhance the frontline services that our communities rely upon but also ensure that our staff are supported in this pursuit.

“As part of the Integrated Joint Board, NHS Fife will be working collectively with our colleagues to establish better ways of working, which are more sustainable and support the provision of high-quality care. It is our commitment, however, that as we reshape our services and develop new ways of working, we will do so without compromising the standard of care we offer to our patients.

“The board acknowledges the scale of the challenges it faces, however, supported by our dedicated and committed workforce, we are confident in our ability to continue providing high-quality services.”