ACTION to increase the number of intensive care beds for critically ill children was today blasted as "too little, too late" by a grieving East Lancashire mum.

Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell today announced plans to provide 37 extra paediatric beds in the next two years - even though the Government's own experts say 55 more should be opened over the next 12 months.

Helen Jackson, whose son Lewis died in an intensive care bed at a Stoke hospital, said the move was too late to bring back her son.

But she called for the bulk of the new beds to be supplied in the North West which was worst-hit by the recent bed shortage.

Amid concern that sick children are repeatedly being turned away from hospitals, the Government has also revealed it is to develop a national bed bureau and increase funding for paediatric nurses. But Mrs Jackson, of Monk Street, Clitheroe, said: "The moves are all well and good, but they are too late for Lewis, too late for Nicholas Geldard from Stockport and others who have suffered.

"We have got to have about 10 to 15 more beds in the North West area. We should not have to travel halfway round the country for a bed.

"The nurses should be paid the earth. The ones at Queen's Park Hospital and Stoke who treated Lewis were absolutely fantastic."

The bed increase was announced even though a report from the NHS Executive said an extra 55 beds should be opened on top of the 249 currently available. Mrs Jackson's 21-month-old son, who suffered from a genetic disorder which slowed his development, was driven to the Stoke hospital in December where he later died.

The Jacksons have been campaigning for more intensive care beds and have also launched an appeal to buy vital hospital equipment for Lancashire hospitals.

Burnley-based Judge Bill Ashworth has already spearheaded a probe into the provision of intensive child care in the North West. His team accused the medical authorities of "ghastly misjudgement" in the case of Stockport youngster Nicholas Geldard who died after being shuttled around four hospitals.

The North West is understood to need about 42 extra specialist children's nurses.

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