Beds are being axed at a hospital because of a shortage of nurses.

A staffing crisis at Fair Mile Hospital, Cholsey, near Wallingford, has forced hospital bosses to close beds and turn away patients.

The number of beds for acute adult admissions has been slashed from 91 to 64 and beds for elderly mental health patients cut from 49 to 37.

General manager Roger Winters said the closures were needed to reduce pressure on nurses.

He said the hospital had only two-thirds of the nursing staff needed for it to function properly.

He blamed the crisis on a national shortage of qualified nurses and Fair Mile's run-down condition.

"We are a third down on staff, but with Fair Mile being where it is, it means we don't have the local catchment area of people we would expect to reach.

"We are isolated and that means it is harder to attract staff. And because we are in an old building we aren't as attractive as other hospitals. That's why we think it is necessary to move into newer premises."

Mr Winters said: "We regret this because it has a direct influence on patients who cannot go into hospital as soon as they require, or who end up out of the area. We would much rather give them the care they require in Fair Mile."

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