27 September 2012 Last updated at 06:16 ET

Three Cornish cottage hospitals to close beds

A staffing crisis has forced bed closures at three of Cornwall's cottage hospital, the not-for-profit company which operates them has said.

Ten out of 20 beds at Launceston Hospital would close from November, Peninsula Community Health said.

Beds have also been shut in Falmouth and at Poltair in Penzance.

The company said jobs had been advertised, but some people failed to turn up for interviews and others took up other offers.

The company said the low staff levels were partly due to internal promotions, maternity leave and retirement.

A new recruitment drive is under way.

Managers added that the closures were only temporary, but could not say when the beds might reopen.

Peninsula Health Community runs 14 community hospitals in the county after taking over community health services last October.