Hospital chiefs in Bradford have cancelled routine surgery for patients needing intensive care after their operations due to a growing shortage of emergency beds.

Managers say they have taken the decision - which will affect a handful of patients each week - in the interests of safety.

Operations for patients needing unplanned emergency surgery will still go ahead.

The move comes in response to a national crisis over intensive care beds, caused by the flu bug which has led to higher-than-normal numbers of patients needing emergency care.

Rose Stephens, director of patient care at Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, said the unprecedented surge in the number of patients requiring emergency admission to hospital since mid-December had put significant pressure on general beds, intensive care beds and high-dependency beds at BRI.

"Surgery for those few patients who have been identified as requiring an intensive care bed or a high dependency bed after their operation is therefore being postponed until the difficult situation we are facing begins to ease," she said.

"We felt it prudent to take this temporary measure to safeguard our patients and we hope the situation will be resolved shortly. Meanwhile, we are contacting the handful of people likely to be affected and will try to rearrange their surgery to take place as soon as possible."

She said routine surgery was continuing at Bradford's hospitals thanks to efforts of staff.

The winter action plan developed with other health organisations had been tested to the full but was working.

Pressure on health services throughout Bradford is said to be easing as the number of people with flu flattens out.

A Bradford Council spokeswoman said social services staff were remaining busy maintaining care for people discharged from hospital after treatment.

"There has been a marked increase in the number of referrals to social services but we are working very closely with the health authority to meet the demand and maintain the best possible care arrangements," she said.

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