HEALTH managers in Herefordshire have ruled out a 120 bed or 50 bed addition to the new County Hospital.

They say it would cost an extra £6.5 million a year to run the first and £2.5 million to operate the second.

Decisions being made now about the number of beds had to be done on the basis of what is affordable.

In a blunt message they say "Herefordshire cannot spend what it does not, and is unlikely, ever to have''

But they have not ruled out some new beds altogether.

In new proposals this week they have put forward three major points for consideration.

One of them has already been given a helping hand by the Government with confirmation that the health authority and social services have won a bid for £1.8 million to turn Hillside residential home at Redhill into a new city based intermediate care facility.

l But the major proposal involves the creation of a state of the art 21st century combined admissions and assessment unit at the new hospital.

The hospital already has an admissions unit with 25 beds. Now it is suggested that an adjoining ward with another 25 beds be encompassed to form a 50 bed unit.

It would be used exclusively for patients needing diagnosis and tests, getting quick results and cutting back the time spent in hospital or being referred elsewhere.

It would be backed up by an extensive range of round the clock diagnostic services and a rapid response team.

A business case for this scheme still has to be produced but it is believed it would cost round £1.7 million to run.

The 25 beds absorbed into the unit would be replaced in a new building elsewhere at the hospital following negotiations with Mercia Healthcare. If accepted the scheme could be introduced sometime next year.

l A second proposal looks at an investment of £200,000 in 2002 - 3 to improve diagnostic services in Hereford hospitals.

There has been concern for some time at the time it takes to find out what is wrong, if anything, with patients.

Swifter answers can mean earlier treatment and often confirmation that no treatment is necessary to the benefits of patient and hospital alike.

l The third proposal is to create Hereford-based intermediate care facility using Hillside at Redhill.

The Department of Health said yes this week to giving £1.8 million to help with adapting the building and buying equipment.

It is a joint venture between Herefordshire Council's social services and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust.