AN EXTRA hospital ward has been opened to serve North Staffordshire's accident unit, where patients face marathon delays on trolleys for treatment or a bed.

The 22 beds have been made available by switching neurological patients from the ward – number 21 – to another site.

Due to be unveiled in two weeks' time, eight of the beds will be earmarked for GPs to refer patients with emergency medical conditions who currently have to wait their turn in A&E.

The move comes as recent warmer weather has brought even more pressure on the Hartshill department, with a flood of children being brought in with injuries including cuts, and fractured and dislocated bones.

New figures issued by the University Hospital of North Staffordshire show that around 90 youngsters needed treatment on one day last week – with 30 of them pouring in during a single hour.

They were among a staggering 650 patients who turned up for help in just two days – more than 100 higher than the 48-hour average.

Chief executive Julia Bridgewater, said: "There is no one single answer to this but the rapid assessment room we opened last month is already starting to help and the availability of an entire extra ward should make even more improvements.

"A&E is my top priority but some days, the sheer numbers of patients are staggering and overwhelming. We need to make sure the department is resourced to cope with those peaks."

Mrs Bridgewater added that although a full rota of seven consultants was based at the unit until 3am every day, the hospital was about to open talks with the local primary care trusts about increasing senior medical staffing after that.

"A 24/7 consultant-staffed unit is classed as the gold standard and would involve a hike in resources required, but I believe we need to plan for that."

Mrs Bridgewater said the influx of youngsters could be connected to warmer weather and lighter nights which meant youngsters were playing out longer.

Mark Mould, trust acting operational director, said the GPs had welcomed being given the chance to directly refer patients to the eight beds ward 21. They will also be able to have detailed telephone conversations with senior physicians on the ward before deciding whether to admit a patient.

Hospital finance director Chris Calkin revealed that the trust was investing 30 per cent more than average for the NHS into its A&E operations.