Severe bed shortages in Colchester are causing the worst winter crisis the town's hospital has ever had.

All 705 beds at the Turner Road site are full and routine operations are being cancelled.

Hospital bosses blame a shortage of GPs on duty over Christmas as a key reason for the problems.

Mike Pollard, chief executive of Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, said Colchester's six intensive care beds were full, but the emergency department was managing despite staff illness.

"People are struggling on valiantly. It is a mark of their professionalism and I am very appreciative," he said.

People turning up with flu symptoms are being told to go home.

"There is no cure for flu," Mr Pollard added. "They should have lots of hot drinks and stay in bed."

Tessa Quelch, bed manager at the hospital, said: "This is the worst Christmas we have ever had. There is a severe bed crisis and people are having to wait an awful long time to get one.

"Many people coming into hospital are using it as a doctor's surgery. Because of that, those expecting elective surgery this week can forget it. "We are probably going to have to cancel some waiting list operations today.

She said because of the millennium many doctor's surgeries, which would normally have four GPs on rota, have just one.

She said: "If it was not like this we would have been able to turn the situation around.

"If it carries on like this into the millennium, we will be in serious trouble."

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