WARDS AT hospitals across North Wales, including Colwyn Bay, will close for three months as the health board seeks to make winter savings.
But this has caused concern for residents and Age Cymru which says that people need to be assured they will not be adversely affected.
To boost staff numbers at their major hospitals as winter sees a rise in injuries and illnesses, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will transfer staff from wards at smaller community hospitals, with closures beginning at January 2.
The board cited the further pressures of recruitment, staff sickness and their current financial position as further pressures to shuffle the services.
The board faces an overspend of its yearly budget by £6million - but is hopeful that it can return to its £1.2billion limit by the end of the financial year.
The board has targeted Minor Injury Units (MIU) and day services for staff, as these services are not badly hit by rising demand during the winter.
Sixteen extra beds will open at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and Glan Clwyd Hospital’s Emergency Department will receive extra staff - but this will be achieved by the closure of the MIU at Colwyn Bay Community Hospital.
Cllr Phil Edwards, who represents Rhos ward, described the closure move as " devastating blow to the whole of Colwyn area" and a "catastrophic reaction to a failure of forward planning".
He added: "The people of Colwyn Bay are being let down badly here by the Trust, particularly the vulnerable and the elderly and those who have to rely on public transport."
The MIU at Llandudno Community Hospital will remain open from 8am until 10pm throughout the week.
Iwan Rhys Roberts, a spokesman for Age Cymru, said: “People need to be assured that where there are hospital closures or service cutbacks -- be they temporary or permanent -- that they will not be adversely affected.
“Winter can be a perilous time for older people because of the cold weather that we’re used to, but hopefully the mild winter we’re currently experiencing will ease some of the worry for many.”