Dr Christine Blanshard, the chief medical officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, outlined a similar situation.
“At any one time we have 100 patients in the hospital who no longer need acute hospital care, it does add to the pressures at the front door,” she said.
“We are caring for patients in corridors because of the lack of capacity in the emergency department, it is a real challenge in getting patients discharged.”
A shortage in the number of staff has also reportedly added to the strain on services.
On New Year’s Eve, the Wye Valley trust messaged staff on annual leave asking any of them who could work to contact the County Hospital “ASAP”external.
“The genesis of the problem is around not having a good workforce plan for the NHS and social care over a number of years,” Ms Ives said.
“That means we came into Covid-19 under real pressure.
“A lack of staff is really a fundamental problem for us.”