CASUALTY doctors at York Hospital faced their busiest day ever after a huge increase of patients in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.

The hospital was also forced to declare two Red Alerts during May after the number of available beds in the hospital fell below the required level - a situation traditionally seen only in the winter months. During a red alert local GPs are warned so they are aware of the situation before they admit patients.

Although the increased pressure saw the hospital drop one per cent below its Government A&E target of 90 per cent of patients being seen and discharged within four hours during May, that figure climbed back up during June.

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, June 25, 2003