STAFF shortages have led to ward closures and a cutback in bed numbers at Salisbury District Hospital.

But Salisbury Healthcare Trust public relations manager Patrick Butler assured the Journal that the measures were only temporary.

He was responding to allegations made anonymously to the Journal that the closure of two key wards and the loss of an intensive care bed in a newly refurbished unit were cost-cutting measures that were putting patients at risk.

Mr Butler confirmed that Woodford Ward, a 21-bed medical ward, has closed until September and that Wilton B Ward, an eight-bed overflow ward, is also temporarily shut while staffing issues are dealt with.

"It really isn't unusual for us to close a ward during the summer we've done it before," said Mr Butler.

"We're approaching a time when children are at home, so staff want to take leave and go on holiday it's a natural movement of staff."

Mr Butler also confirmed that one intensive therapy bed would be temporarily unavailable during the summer but that the remaining seven beds in that unit would remain fully operational.

To cope with staff shortages, the hospital has recruited 20 Filipino nurses a number they hope to double by September.

This follows on from the 40 new members of staff recruited last year.

Mr Butler said: "We want to provide a good level of cover wherever possible.

"We also want to recruit our own nurses, who understand our hospital policies and procedures, rather than rely on agency staff."