STAFF at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, are warning patients to expect lengthy delays in its casualty department.

The problem has resulted from an unusually high number of emergency admissions.

Bosses - who yesterday issued a warning to all GPs about the "severe pressures on beds" - said they were reviewing the situation on a daily basis.

Tricia Hart, director of nursing and patients services, said: "We've had quite a heavy take through accident and emergency over the last 48 hours. Because the patients are ill the discharge rate is not as fast as we would like."

Asked the reason for the influx, she said: "I 'm really not sure what it is - there's been a mixture of trauma cases and mixture of medical emergencies. There's nothing specific that I can put my finger on and say it's that.

It's very difficult to monitor.

"It could take a couple of hours or more for patients to be seen. All the staff are working really hard from accident and emergency right through to all the wards."

The hospital has not had to cancel operations as a result of the beds crisis but if the situation worsens that may become an option.

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