Urgent moves are being made to open extra intensive care beds at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

And an appeal has been launched for more nurses to cope with a major increase in the number of emergency and urgent cases.

Mid Essex Hospitals Trust has decided to almost double the number of beds in the new intensive care unit at the hospital, which is having to admit around 50 emergency cases every day.

Six beds, which were originally designated for high dependency use, will be upgraded to intensive care status, adding to the eight existing intensive care beds.

Now an urgent search for more nurses to work at the hospital has been launched so the six extra beds can be opened to cope with an increasing number of seriously ill patients.

The new unit has come under pressure over the Christmas and new year period with demand for emergency and urgent treatment running at extremely high levels.

The hospital has also continued to carry out some planned surgery, although several patients have had to have routine operations postponed.

Chris Minett, chief executive of Mid Essex Hospitals Trust, paid tribute to staff for pulling out all the stops to cope. Many staff have worked extra shifts to cover for colleagues hit by flu.

With flu-related illnesses and the number of seriously ill patients on the increase the trust has decided it must take immediate action.

Mr Minett said: "Due to the increasing number of very sick people being cared for, the trust plans to open more beds on the intensive care unit as soon as possible.

"This will enable patients who are very sick to be cared for in the best facilities."

"As a result we will be urgently looking for qualified staff, either to join the nursing bank or on permanent contracts."

Work will be based on flexible hours. Nurses who are interested are asked to call Heather Hardy on 01245 514478.

Auxiliary staff are also needed and can obtain more details by calling Maureen Gowers on 01245 513028.

Essex Ambulance Service has been allocated £250,000 "winter pressure" funding by North Essex Health Authority and will be using the extra money to provide additional ambulances to help cope with the increasing demands on services.

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