THE Accident and Emergency unit at Cheltenham General Hospital – one of only two in the county – is to be downgraded.

From August all patients needing emergency treatment at night time will be diverted to Gloucester Royal Hospital.

The change has been made in order to consolidate emergency staff on a single site at times when staffing levels are often low.

It has been estimated that 16 patients a day will be diverted from Cheltenham to Gloucester.