BOLTON hospitals are treating more patients, more quickly - but pressure on beds is increasing.

Last year Bolton Hospitals treated 14 per cent more patients than the previous year.

No-one has been waiting more than 12 months for treatment.

The increase, though, is causing concern among staff and hospital bosses who are struggling to cope with the resources at their disposal.

Demand for beds reached a peak in winter and staff struggled to cope with a massive increase in the number of elderly and acute medical admissions.

Although there has been extra cash from Wigan and Bolton Health Authority to cope with increasing pressures it is not enough.

John Brunt, chief executive of Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The concern is that if this exceptionally high rate of increase in activity continues then it places great pressure on the staff and on our resources, such as beds." He added the Trust would be discussing how best to address the issues. This year Bolton Hospitals' funding has increased from £75 million to £81 million.

The trust employs just over 3,000 staff and there is currently £50 million of capital development work going on on the Bolton General Hospital site. At its four main hospital sites the Trust has a total of 1,060 beds. Mr Brunt added: "Obviously it's very good news indeed that we're treating additional patients and more quickly too but there is concern and we are having discussions about how best to address the issues."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.