Crisis-hit Basildon Hospital, cancelling routine operations to cope with a massive surge in emergency admissions, has just announced a fall in its waiting list.

In the first eight months of this financial year, the number of patients waiting for surgery has fallen from 5,138 to 4,420 - a drop of 14 per cent.

But that figure only goes up until the end of November - before the current flu outbreak which is crippling Accident and Emergency departments throughout the country.

So far this week, the hospital has had to contact 35 patients at the eleventh hour to tell them that there is not a bed available for them to come in for surgery, after all.

But yesterday, South Essex Health Authority agreed to fund 14 beds in a Grays nursing home to take patients who are medically fit enough to be discharged from hospital, but still need community care.

The money is coming from the £2.1m allocation received for south Essex from the £159m Government injection into the health service last November.

Altogether, 119 patients will be moved into nursing and residential homes across south Essex, relieving the pressure on desperately-needed hospital beds.

Some of the money will also be spent on rehabilitation services to allow patients to return to their homes more quickly.

Health authority chief executive, Graham Butland, insisted the extra money would help keep hospitals on track to reach the Government's waiting list targets for the end of March.

The Thameside community trust is making another six beds available in Mayflower House, Billericay, and Thurrock community hospital.

Pat Trinnaman, head of communications for Basildon Hospital, said: "We are doing everything we can. Things are easing a little bit - but don't get excited."

Health Secretary, Frank Dobson, due to visit Basildon Hospital next Tuesday to open its renal dialysis unit, admitted there was little spare capacity in the hospital system, but said no contingency could be made for the current massive demand on the NHS.

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