FALLING numbers of nurses working in Southampton's hospitals have led to more beds being closed.
The latest figures show that 73 beds were shut in December because of staff vacancies in Southampton University Hospitals Trust. Seven of these were in intensive care.
In November the trust had 71 beds closed due to nursing shortages.
The increase in bed closures is partly explained by the rise in the number of nurses who left in December, with fewer replacements taking up new posts.
Hospital chiefs are currently in the process of inducting 69 nurses from the Philippines.
The trust expects to reach its vacancy target of five per cent by April.
They will achieve this via new recruits from the university's accelerated nurse training course and the continuation of their Return to Practise course, run for nurses who have taken a career break.
Hospital chiefs are continuing to look into retention issues, aiming to keep the nurses they have.
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