Hospital faces 'significant pressure' pre-winter
BBCEmergency care services are facing "significant pressures due to high demand" going into the winter period, bosses have said.
Adel Jones, chief operating officer at University Hospitals Plymouth said Derriford Hospital had seen a large number of patients on Monday evening.
Derriford, the largest hospital in the South West which treats patients from across Cornwall and Devon, predicted it could need an extra 122 beds for adults at the busiest point this winter.
Jones said: "Our teams worked hard throughout Monday night to maintain safe care, prioritising patients based on clinical need, and we have seen the department in a much-improved position."
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Jones said the emergency department was especially busy, with a "significant number" of patients who "could be more appropriately treated by other services, including primary care and urgent treatment centres".
Patients are advise to only attend the emergency department if they have a serious or life-threatening illness or injury.
The NHS board which oversees Derriford Hospital was told a temporary ward with 22 extra beds could help address the problem, costing about £600k across four months.
In another part of Devon, more than 20% of beds at North Devon District Hospital were taken up by people who were medically ready to go home this August, according to the hospital's figures.
The NHS board which oversees the Barnstaple hospital was told this week almost 54 beds a day could be freed up on the site if patients were able to get suitable care after being discharged from hospital.
The Royal Cornwall Hospital previously said it had an exceptionally busy summer with staff experiencing "some of the busiest days ever".
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