BOLTON hospital bosses look set to bid for extra resources and increase intensive care cover to cope with the "phenomenally" high demand for beds.

As reported in the BEN, there has been a big increase in demand for acute and elderly beds in recent months. The situation is the same in hospitals across Greater Manchester.

John Brunt, Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive, told the health service sub committee that there had been a 15pc rise in acute admissions and a 19pc increase in elderly admissions in recent months.

There has also been an 8pc rise in accident and emergency work and an 11pc increase in emergency call outs in the ambulance service. "There's an increasing incidence of medical patients being cared for on surgical wards which obviously creates difficulties and puts pressure on staff," said Mr Brunt.

"A number of measures have been introduced to cope with this increasing year on year demand and the move to a single site will obviously be highly beneficial and give us more flexibility.

"Although we have been getting more resources from the Government, the level of demand for services is outstripping the level of resources at our disposal and we may well be forced to seek further resources."

Bolton, like other district general hospitals, has a limited number of intensive care beds available and is looking at the possibility of increasing the number. "I have a great deal of sympathy with the hospital management, with the staff and everyone concerned," said Mike Chapman, Bolton Community Health Council chairman.

"But the blame must lie with the Government which has cut all along the line so there's no longer any slack in the system. We have an NHS which cannot cope with a need which could very easily have been foreseen."

Mr Brunt said there had been marked increase in activity across the specialities in recent years and, although there were now fewer beds, this was as a result of changes to the policy on continuing care for the elderly.

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