BURY hospitals went on to Red Alert this week after winter casualties put pressure on beds and services.

Hospitals general manager, Mr David Clements, confirmed that all the beds at Bury hospitals were being used, with no room for patients from outside the borough. But he stressed that no patients had, in fact, been turned away.

As the Bury Times went to press on Wednesday (December 22), the situation had changed to Amber which meant that a limited number of beds were available but there was still no room for patients from outside the Bury area.

On average they were treating 25 emergency cases a day, with up to 45 during peak times.

"Things are very tight at the moment. The staff are coping very well but the pressure is certainly on," said Mr Clements.

All planned surgery has been postponed for next week and only emergency cases will be dealt with to help ease the pressure on medical staff.

The situation is not as bad as it was last year when doctors and nurses were trying to cope with the flu epidemic but staff are preparing for the holiday period which is traditionally one of the busiest times.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.