Mid Essex: Hotline set up as bug hits hospital

More than 100 doctors and nurses are sick with flu at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford - placing a strain on the remaining medical staff left to care for patients.

And staffing levels at the hospital, which caters for people from across mid-Essex are said to be dwindling fast after a flurry of calls yesterday from people ruling themselves out of millennium shifts.

Now hospital bosses have set up a special hotline hoping medically trained staff will phone in to volunteer to help out.

News of the crisis comes just days after A&E was forced to turn away ambulances because it was so busy.

Assistant general manager Lynne Smith said: "There is always a lot of sickness at this time but this year it has been particularly bad.

"We thought we had to do something and the response to our appeal has so far been very good. We really appreciate the help we've received from the public.

"But I would stress we don't just want anyone to call in - we are looking for trained nurses or people with experience of working in an auxiliary capacity."

Mrs Smith added, in order to ease the situation, people should contact their GP before turning up at the hospital.

"There is a clear message people should avoid the accident and emergency department because it is very busy," she added.

"All GPs are particularly accessible at the moment and are putting in extra hours over the New Year period.

"But people are still coming straight to the hospital which serves only to put even more pressure on our staff."

Colchester General Hospital has escaped the flu bug.

The contact number for anyone wishing to help is 01245 516487.

Mike Pollard, chief executive of Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust has refuted a report which said a reason for the current pressures on Colchester General Hospital was a shortage of GPs on duty over Christmas.

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