THE family of an elderly man have raised concerns over a shortage of beds at Warrington Hospital.

The pensioner was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning last week, but when his family asked which ward he would be placed on, nurses replied that since no beds were available he would have to remain on the observation ward.

The family claimed that the nurses also said that the shortage meant that some patients had been on the ward for a week while waiting for beds to become available in other wards.

A spokesman for Warrington Hospital said: "In common with hospitals across the country, Warrington Hospital is experiencing an increase in demand for its services.

"Although bed occupancy is high, the hospital is coping with the increased number of admissions.

"As part of the hospital's plans to cope with this anticipated increase in demand, planned surgery was cancelled for three weeks and returned to full operation from Monday, January 15.

"The hospital has unfortunately had to cancel a handful of non-urgent patients due to increased pressure on beds."

Gill Heaton, director of nursing and operational services, said: "The hospital is experiencing an increase in demand for its services in common with trusts across the country.

"However, a number of contingency plans were put into place before the Christmas and new year period, enabling us to keep cancellations to a minimum."