SOUTHERN Downs MP Lawrence Springborg has declared he would not accept any reduction in services at the Stanthorpe Hospital.

The Stanthorpe Hospital announced yesterday that it would be temporarily amalgamating its western annexe with the acute ward.

Under the changes, palliative care patients and new mums would be moved to the hospital's general ward.

The changes have prompted a strong response from the community, with one resident describing nurses "crying in the wards" over what would happen to their patients.

Mr Springborg has expressed concerns about the way changes to services at the Stanthorpe Hospital have been communicated to the community.

"How was it handled in such a way that staff and the community were led to believe there would be closures and job losses," he questioned.

"Something went wrong along the way."

After speaking with several concerned residents yesterday, he took up his concerns with Darling Downs Hospital and Health service chairman Mike Horan.

"I've been given assurances no jobs will go as a consequence," he said.

"I've also be given assurances of no reduction of services.

"Mike Horan was very sensitive to this and he was very, very alarmed by the level of concern in the community."

The hospital will be visited by several of DDHHS executive, including the director of rural health services, on Friday.

Mr Springborg said the hospital board had to make sure they addressed people's concerns.

"If concerns aren't addressed it's back to the drawing board," he said.

"If you're going to make changes, as logical as they may be, people have to be a part of it.

"Health is so important to people, they will want to have all the guarantees justifiably that things will not be diminished."

He also questioned the way the changes had been communicated

The reasoning behind the changes is reportedly for the hospital to utilise unused space better and create operational efficiencies.

"If they can do that by consolidating operations without impacting on services whilst improving services and address community concerns I'd be happy with that," Mr Springborg said.