A second burns victim has been turned away from an Essex hospital in less than a month because of a shortage of beds and staff, it was revealed today.

The 46-year-old had to be transferred from Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital following a blaze at Foulness weapons testing base, which left him with up to 90 per cent burns.

Following a flat fire earlier this month, James Smith, 31, of Old Southend Road, Southend, was taken 250 miles by road to Swansea because there was no room at Broomfield, the county's specialist burns unit.

There are just four beds available at the centre, formerly at Billericay, for the whole of East Anglia, east London and Kent.

Now health watchdogs have called for more specialist beds to be provided at the hospital.

Norma O'Hara, chief officer at the Mid-Essex Community Health Council, said: "Four beds is just not enough to cope with demand and there needs to be more money provided so people can get the treatment they need."

A spokesman for Broomfield Hospital said: "The scenario for the man from Foulness would have been similar to the case of the man who had to be taken to Swansea for treatment after we were not able to treat him here."

Caroline Rassell, director of specialist services at Southend Primary Care Trust, said: "One of the first priorities for Southend on Sea PCT is to review the funding for burns services for the people of Essex.

Published Friday August 16, 2002

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