HOSPITALS in East Lancashire are 'creaking at the seams' ahead of Christmas, a union boss has warned.

Unison chief Glenn Harrison was speaking as damning figures show nearly 95 per cent (94.74 per cent) of beds are occupied at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust (ELHT).

Anything above 85 per cent is unsafe.

There were also 134 ambulance handover delays of half an hour to sixty minutes and 16 of one hour and more at the trust.

Ambulance crews are meant to be able to handover patients to A&E staff within 15 minutes of arrival.

Data emerged in NHS England's first weekly report of the winter, covering December 3 to December 9.

Mr Harrison, lead convener for public service union UNISON, said: "It's been anticipated already that this could possibly be one of the worst years for winter pressures in the NHS in its history.

"A lot of this will depend on how cold it gets but together with winter flu, slips, trips and falls and other additional pressures you get from high alcohol consumption, this will all put extra pressure on the NHS.

"There is also a problem with low staffing levels and trusts struggling to recruit and retain doctors and nurses.

"So you then get high bed occupancy rates and patients waiting in corridors and ambulances queuing outside A&E.

"It all has a big domino effect and we don't want our NHS to become like the third world creaking at the seams.

"More funding and staff are needed."

The trust's performance in November against the 95 per cent four-hour A&E wait was just 79.4 per cent, considerably below the average for England of 87.6 per cent.

Mike Buoey, an organiser in the North West for GMB, the union for ambulance workers, described the figures as 'frightening'.

He said: "The problem with the ambulance handover delays is caused by ambulances being delayed and queuing at hospitals.

"They then can't get out into the community and attend calls to patients, which is potentially putting lives at risk.

"There is also no movement of patients in hospitals, as patients are waiting to be seen in A&E and to be discharged."

"The figures are frightening."

John Bannister, director of operations for ELHT, said that due to the number of ill patients the trust receives during the winter, ambulance attendances increase.

He said: "As a result, handover times are on average eight to ten minutes longer than during the summer; however we are working closely in partnership with North West Ambulance Service to reduce handover times.

“At our busiest times, we need the support of the local community and they should really think about which NHS service is most appropriate for them – local pharmacy, GP Practices, or the Minor Injury Units at Rossendale and Accrington. In some cases, self-care would be the most suitable course of action.

"If patients are unsure what treatment they need, then they can call 111 for immediate medical advice.

“A&E waiting times are published on our website www.elht.nhs.uk and as we have limited capacity within the department, people should not attend accompanied by multiple visitors.”