Eight positions will be made redundant by Bermuda Hospitals Board before the end of this month.The move brings the total number of jobs axed by BHB to nine for the present fiscal year.Since some staff are expected to be redeployed, the exact number of layoffs isn’t available, a BHB spokeswoman said.Employees will be informed of their options by the end of this month.The board has also imposed “a vacancy freeze of positions that will not affect patient care”, along with retirements and non-renewal of work permits, in a bid to cut costs.“Our priority is to maintain a safe, quality service, but we must do so while gaining all efficiencies possible,” the spokeswoman added.It follows a tight BHB budget allocation for the coming fiscal year: Government will not go over $104 million for 2013/14.