Health chiefs in south Essex are planning an action replay of their millennium winter plans - only this year they vow they will be better.

Health and social services have been in discussions since the summer to make sure that, whatever the coming months have in store, they will be prepared.

Amanda Hallums, director of nursing at Basildon Hospital, said: "Last year's millennium planning was such a useful exercise for making sure rotas were done ahead, staff were ready to come in at short notice and sitting down with community and social services for 'what if' scenarios."

The hospital has already opened one extra 30-bedded ward at Orsett Hospital to take elderly people with acute illnesses and relieve the much-publicised pressure in Basildon's A & E department.

Despite the fact a new nursing home has recently opened in Wickford, the hospital is still running with 60 bed blockers - the equivalent of two wards.

But Miss Hallums is confident that, providing the emergency workload remains constant at an average 60 emergency admissions a day, the Trust will be able to cope this winter.

Southend Hospital has also linked up with health and social services to draw up its own winter action plan.

Measures include a discharge lounge and special discharge ambulance to free up beds more quickly, cancelling all routine surgery from today (Monday) to January 5, ensuring 240 beds are empty by Christmas Eve to cope with an influx of emergencies, an extra pharmacist to avoid delays in preparing discharged patients' medicines, a 24-hour bed management bureau and an increase in the number of children's beds.

The hospital's communications manager, Ros Mortis, said: "We have slicked our systems up and there is more combined working with social services."

By Pat Stone

Reporter's e-mail: pat.stone@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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