HEALTH: Shortage of medical staff in NHS casualty units

Britain's casualty departments lack doctors, nurses and intensive care beds, says a survey published today. Intensive care beds make up only 1 per cent of all NHS beds, compared with 6 per cent in the US, and mortality rates are higher.

Nine out of ten accident and emergency consultants said that medical staffing levels were inadequate, while three-quarters thought that nursing levels were too low. Many said that they were working at or beyond safety limits.

The survey, commissioned by the Association of London Government and Unison, found that the situation in London was especially acute, following the closure of almost 3,000 of the capital's beds (14.2 per cent) since 1991 - twice the national average rate. Bed occupancy rates in London hospitals are 95-100 per cent, well above the recommended level of 80- 85 per cent, which would allow for emergency admissions.

A&E: NHS in Distress, NHS Support Federation. Tel: 0171-633 0801.