Devon hospitals face £70m in savings cuts

Unions have raised patient and staff concerns about the savings plans

Hospitals in Devon are cutting nearly £70m from their budgets for the 2011/12 financial year.

Plymouth's Derriford Hospital is cutting jobs and closing theatres as it looks to save £31m. The Royal Devon and Exeter is reducing spending by £23m.

In North Devon, £5.3m of savings are being sought. Torbay is trying to make efficiencies of £9.6m

The health trusts said the £68.9m cuts were part of a national plan to save up to £20bn in the NHS over four years.

Unions said it would mean some patients would suffer and staff would be put under even more pressure.