Hospitals across the West Midlands have been freezing jobs in a bid to balance their books by the end of the month.

But the region’s hospitals have not had to make drastic cutbacks like closing beds or wards, which have affected other parts of the country.

A survey of health chiefs in the UK showed more than seven in 10 were restricting access to treatments, half delaying operations and 61 per cent of hospitals were closing wards.

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Hospitals across the West Midlands have been freezing jobs in a bid to balance their books by the end of the month.

But the region’s hospitals have not had to make drastic cutbacks like closing beds or wards, which have affected other parts of the country.

A survey of health chiefs in the UK showed more than seven in 10 were restricting access to treatments, half delaying operations and 61 per cent of hospitals were closing wards.

Hospitals in Sandwell and Kidderminster had made recruitment freezes but did not need to take further action to cut costs.

Sandwell Primary Care Trust said it had avoided closing wards but put a freeze on recruitment and, where possible, a block on admissions in favour of care within the community.

Keith Gabriel, spokesman for Sandwell PCT, said: “Sandwell PCT is striving to minimise any deficit.

“A number of measures have been taken to reduce deficit, including the implementation of a recovery plan which aims to prevent admission to hospitals when care within a community setting would be more appropriate.” Dudley Group of Hospitals spokeswoman Suzie Fothergill said there had been no bed or ward closures.