Spiralling emergency cases are putting increased pressure on hospital staff in north Essex.
The number of emergency patients has soared by almost a third this year to more than 8,000 - 1,900 above hospital chiefs' predictions.
Bosses are now looking at ways to cut numbers in a bid to ease pressure on doctors and nurses, and more staff are being brought in to cope with the increase.
Peter Murphy, hospital Trust chief executive, said: "It is something we are looking to correct over the next two to three months with recruitment."
Essex Rivers NHS Trust is also struggling to hit tough target treatment times in accident and emergency.
Almost 94 per cent of patients are seen within four hours, which is below targets.
However, the Trust is battling a big rise in patients being sent to hospital by family doctors.
Figures have hit 19,600, pushing the number of outpatients on waiting lists to more than 9,000.
Performance director Stephanie Watson said: "The main concern is referrals into the service, which are 1,226 more than expected. That is clearly what is driving waiting lists up."
Published Wednesday July 28, 2004
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