A small hospital's general surgery service is being taken over by a neighbour, after a review found "unacceptable" care standards and reported concerns about a "toxic culture".

An integrated care board has put new restrictions on referrals for several community services, arguing that "health benefits must be maximised from the resources available".

A trust has been forced to cancel more than 1,400 elective operations due to problems with the cleaning of its surgical instruments.

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