HEALTH chiefs have performed a U-turn on slashing 700 hospital beds in Birmingham – but plan to save £100 million by cutting back on operations instead.

Health chiefs said they would scale back on “low clinical value” operations for 1.3 million potential patients in Birmingham and Solihull.

But, while procedures such as tattoo removal are to be banned, others set to be restricted include treatments for hernias, gallstones and even hysterectomies.

The plan is being implemented by the Birmingham and Solihull Cluster group of primary care trusts (PCTs).

A month ago, the Birmingham Mail revealed the group was looking at cutting “the equivalent of 740 hospital beds” in major hospitals including the Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope, Solihull and City hospitals to help meet the Government’s demand to save £100 million locally. The 15 per cent bed cuts caused an outcry among health unions and watchdogs, despite NHS chiefs saying there would be more community services instead.

Cluster group chief executive Denise McLellan revealed the bed cuts had been removed from managers’ planning but said “hard clinical decisions” needed to be made.

“There is no plan to close 700 beds,” said Miss McLellan.