TWO wards at Evesham hospital could be lost as part of a £4million cutback.

Staff at the community hospital received the body blow this week when they were told to cut costs or lose services.

Closing two wards at Evesham and transferring the orthopaedic services to Kidderminster Hospital were two of the suggestions put forward by the chief executive of the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust Mike Ridley.

Vale doctors and staff are deeply concerned and are working hard between now and next Tuesday's board meeting to come up with alternative suggestions to protect services and jobs.

Dr Neil Townshend, chairman of Evesham and Broadway GP Association and hospital management committee, said: "Three of the proposals will have a serious impact on the hospital. We need to try and look at ways to help the trust save the revenue as part of the development of the future of the hospital, not to cut services." He added that the situation was destabilising for the staff as it could lead to redundancies."

Chairman of the hospital's League of Friends Frances Smith, reacting to the possibility that Bredon Orthopaedic Ward and the Willows Ward could be closed, said: "This has come totally out of the blue and I am absolutely devastated. I can't believe this is happening."

Mrs Smith said: "The Willows is so well known throughout the country for its work with people suffering from strokes."

Mr Ridley explained that the £4m savings are to made from services provided throughout the trust which includes primary care in Pershore, Malvern and Tenbury Wells. He said: "We have to save an awful lot of money. My report to the board meeting on Tuesday contains only suggestions on how we could save money. We have a couple of months to consult and come up with the best solutions."

He said the suggestion to close the Willows at the Evesham came after considering that people might prefer to have the same services provided in their own homes.

He said: "People don't normally want to stay in hospital. We are asking what kind of investment would be required to expand the 24-hour district nurse services. Community rehabilitation might be a better alternative."

He added: "We are open to suggestions from anybody and everybody but we have to decide where the savings must be made by our August meeting."