Hospitals open extra beds for the winter

Extra beds are being made available and more hospital staff recruited in Staffordshire and the West Midlands to deal with an increase in patients expected because of winter illness and accidents.

Health bosses across the region are putting steps in place to cope with the traditional rise in patients during the winter months. More than 120 extra beds will be made available in hospitals in Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Staffordshire and extra temporary contract workers brought in.

Hospitals will also use bank staff to boost numbers when needed to deal with an influx of patients.

Up to 60 additional health workers are being employed at Walsall Manor through temporary contracted employees, part-time workers increasing their hours and bank staff.

An extra acute medical ward with 30 beds has now been opened up.

An additional 20 nurses are also being recruited by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

Extra beds space of 35 each at Sandwell and the City Hospital in Birmingham are being made available to cope with increasing numbers of patients.

Matthew Dodd, deputy chief operating officer for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The Trust has plans in place to cope with winter pressures.

"We are planning to open an extra 70 beds, some of which are already open, and we have recruited nurses to staff these."

Last year hospitals saw a surge in patient numbers during the winter period, including Dudley's Russells Hall which recorded a 10 per cent rise in emergency admissions because of winter illness.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust said it was not recruiting any permanent posts but that its winter plan includes ensuring health workers are available through the staff bank and through agencies if necessary. It has 37 "flex" beds which can be used when there is extra demand during the winter .