OVERCROWDED hospital wards could be impacting on patient safety and dozens of beds were closed to prevent the spread of a severe virus, it has been revealed.

East Suffolk and North Essex Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, felt the strain at the start of December.

A report released by NHS England showed from December 2 until December 8, 1,171 patients were brought by ambulance to A and E departments at the trust.

The busiest day fell on Sunday, when 190 patients arrived.

Across the week, 47 patients arriving via ambulance waited 30 minutes or more to be transferred to the emergency department.

This is despite NHS guidelines which state all patients should be transferred within 15 minutes.

Another 12 patients waited an hour or longer.

The British Medical Association suggests hospital bed availability should not exceed 85 per cent to ensure a safe level of patient care.

But at Colchester Hospital from December 2 until December 8, general and acute wards were 94 per cent full on average.

Across the trust that week, bed capacity never fell below 92 per cent.

This is the marker set by NHS Improvement after which deterioration in A and E performance begins to accelerate.

On average, the trust had 1,193 beds available to use each day that week, including 26 escalation beds, which are used in emergencies and periods of high demand.

On an average day, 69 beds were free.

As of December 8, 392 patients had been in hospital for seven days or more at the trust, accounting for 34 per cent of all bed space.

The norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, can cause issues at hospitals as staff close beds to prevent its spread.

When the illness was at its peak at the trust that week, 45 beds were closed.

Neill Moloney, managing director of the trust, said: “Keeping patients safe is our first priority.

“If we have a bed occupancy rate of 92 per cent we can bring people into the hospital and make sure they are cared for in the right place at the right time.

“We have developed detailed winter plans to cope with the anticipated increase in the number of patients coming to see us in the winter months and we are working closely with our partners to deliver services in the community.”

As the colder weather takes its toll on the health of the nation, we have looked into how well East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is coping with winter pressures.

During winter, NHS England publishes weekly reports which give insight into how well hospital trusts are managing – looking at ambulance delays, bed occupancy and long stays in hospitals.

We have pulled together a round-up of how East Suffolk and North Essex Trust handled the week from December 2 to 8.

Ambulance waits

Last week, 1,171 patients were brought by ambulance to A&E at the trust. The busiest day was Sunday, when 190 patients arrived.

Over the week, 47 arrivals waited 30 minutes or more to be transferred to the emergency department – despite NHS guidelines saying all patients should be transferred within 15 minutes.

A further 12 patients waited an hour or longer.

Bed availability

General and acute wards at the trust were 94.2% full on average last week – above the 85% rate the British Medical Association suggests should not be exceeded to ensure safe patient care.

Above 92%, NHS Improvement says that deterioration in A&E performance begins to accelerate.

East Suffolk and North Essex Trust was more than 92% full every day last week.

On average, the trust had 1,193 beds available to use each day last week , including 26 escalation beds, which are used in emergencies and periods of high demand. Altogether, 69 beds were free on an average day.

Long-stay patients

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, hospital staff are being encouraged to reduce lengthy hospital stays for patients recovering from an operation or illness. NHS England says the move is aimed at improving care options and freeing up 7,000 beds nationally – the equivalent of 15 large hospitals.

On Sunday, 392 patients had been in hospital for seven days or more at East Suffolk and North Essex Trust. They accounted for 34% of all bed space.

Occupying 10% of beds, 119 patients had been in hospital for three weeks or longer.

Norovirus

Norovirus, also called the winter vomiting bug, causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

As it is contagious, staff can close beds in hospital wards to prevent it spreading.

When the disease was at its peak at East Suffolk and North Essex Trust last week, 45 beds were closed.