Bed crises are occurring almost daily in some hospitals

doi:10.1136/bmj.310.6983.868

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J Wardropea,
N L Kidnera,
J Edhousea

Consultant Senior registrar Registrar Accident and Emergency Department, Northern General Hospital NHS Trust, Sheffield S5 7AU

EDITOR,—Richard Hobbs is correct in stating that emergency admissions are increasing.1 The figure shows the trend in acute admissions through the accident and emergency department of a large general hospital. After a period of stability between 1984 and 1991 the number has almost doubled. It has taken a great deal of hard work and managerial flexibility from all doctors in the hospital to help the department cope with this throughput.

A medical admissions ward has been opened, bed …