An ambitious plan to reorganise acute services in Lothian faced fresh opposition this week amid renewed claims it is based on ‘flawed’ figures.

Hundreds more beds are at risk than Lothian health board has signalled, it is alleged.

The claims heightened fears about the impact on bed numbers of the private finance initiative deal for the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh .

The RIE development is integral to the board’s acute services strategy, detailed in its integrated healthcare plan for 1996-2003.

Glasgow University research fellow Matthew Dunnigan said an analysis of the board’s figures showed Lothian faced the loss of 648 acute beds, or 31 per cent of the total, if the board pressed ahead with its plans. But the board had indicated that only 383 acute beds would be lost.

‘The figures are clearly misleading. My main message is that Lothian cannot take cuts of this magnitude.’

Dr Dunnigan first claimed in October that Lothian’s figures were flawed. The board refuted the claims and gave Dr Dunnigan and the British Medical Association access to its database for changes in hospital activity between 1995-96 and 2002-03.

Dr Dunnigan said this week he stood by his original claim.

A health board statement said Dr Dunnigan had made errors in his report. Board general manager Trevor Jones said bed numbers for RIE were calculated over 18 months with the involvement of 230 clinicians.

‘Only after the size of the hospital had been fixed was a decision taken to use PFI to fund it.’

Mr Jones added that the Lothian area medical committee had recently re- checked the figures and found them to be valid.