North Bristol failing four hour target due to 'lack of beds'

A report to January’s board sets out an action plan for addressing the problem including a review of staffing levels and daily telephone conferences with the local primary care trust “to review all patients awaiting repatriation to other hospitals”.

It blames the problems on a range of factors, incuding an “amalgamation” of two medical assessment units, pressure from the introduction of single sex accomodation requirements, an increase in ambulances arriving at A&E and a reduction of beds in the burns ward for infection control reasons.

The report warns the performance issues could have a negative impact on the trust’s foundation trust application and ambition to be designated as a major trauma centre.

Services, including A&E, are due to move into a new private finance initiative hospital in 2014.