'Our Hospitals Are At Breaking Point'

THE flu epidemic has caused havoc across Britain, with health workers and hospitals stretched to the limit...

LONDON: Most intensive care beds are full. The worst affected hospital is Whipps Cross in Leystonstone, which is treating 50 per cent more patients than normal.

BIRMINGHAM: The city's five major hospitals are admitting an extra 50 patients a day. "We have a record number of patients and are just about coping through careful planning," said Dr Jonathan Michael, of Birmingham University Hospital NHS Trust.

GLASGOW: Intensive care patients at Southern General Hospital are being transferred to neighbouring hospitals. "Our problems are largely down to the cold weather," said a spokesman.

MANCHESTER: Every hospital in Greater Manchester was on red alert status yesterday. Fourteen hospitals which admit emergencies reported a massive increase in admittances. On New Year's Day every bed in every hospital was full. Greater Manchester Ambulance Service spokesman Clive Heather, said: "We have very few beds left to offer anyone."

LIVERPOOL: Extra staff have been drafted into the Royal Liverpool University Hospital after patients waited over six hours for treatment. "We are doing all we can but it's difficult," said a spokeswoman. "We have brought in extra beds and are barely coping."

LANCASHIRE: In Morecambe and Thornton, where there are high concentrations of elderly people, ambulance duty manager Mike Abel said: "Emergency calls have gone up between 30 and 40 per cent, and demand is beginning to outweigh supply."

SOUTH WEST: Southmead Hospital in Bristol yesterday made more beds available to cope with the increased demand. They were also trying to recruit more district nurses to visit elderly people at home who could be treated there rather than in hospital.

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