Thousands of extra patients at risk, hospital says

Increasing numbers are putting patients at risk, the trust says

An NHS trust has revealed it is seeing thousands more patients every month and is facing "unprecedented demand" as it moves into the winter period,

East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust says it has seen "approximately 2,000-3,000 additional patients added to its waiting lists each month since the start of this year."

The trust operates five hospitals including the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Patients are being put at "large risk" due to the increase in numbers, the trust's directors are to be told.

A winter plan has been prioritised and the trust has brought in multiple initiatives to tackle the growing backlog, according to its vice chairman, Stuart Baird.

In Mr Baird's report to the board for its meeting in November the trust's directors will be told its hospitals have a "bed gap of approximately 85 beds" which represents a "large risk to our patients".

In addition it has seen an increase in walk-in attendances, which has resulted in a higher number of patients waiting for beds, "with 132 patients on average awaiting beds in the [emergency department] each morning", Mr Baird said.

The trust has been asked for a response.