Stafford Hospital’s bosses have revealed that they are unlikely to make the original three-month deadline for reopening the A&E department on a full-time basis.

Lyn Hill-Tout, chief executive of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, says there has been a struggle to get the required number of qualified staff in the roles which need filling.

She insisted health care in Cannock and Stafford is not at risk, but has been vague about what lies ahead.

She said: “We already work together with other trusts to provide a joint networked service in some areas and it is likely that we will be doing more of this over the next few years.

“We will need to adapt to deliver the services which commissioners want to buy from us.”

Mrs Hill-Tout said every effort is being made to reopen the A&E department 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, but it is unlikely to be done by March 1.

The trust board will be updated a week tomorrow.