NEW FIGURES just released show that the number of people facing waits of more than four hours on trolleys in Ipswich Hospital's accident and emergency department has increased dramatically.

NEW FIGURES just released show that the number of people facing waits of more than four hours on trolleys in Ipswich Hospital's accident and emergency department has increased dramatically.

Hospital chiefs blamed an "exceptional" surge in emergency admissions for the soaring figures.

In October, 73 patients had to wait on trolleys for a hospital bed to become free for more than four hours – compared to just seven in August.

But a spokeswoman for the hospital said today: "It has been exceptionally busy, more so than ever."

She added: "There has been an exceptional rise in emergency and urgent admissions and it shows the tremendous pressure we face on certain days and at certain times. But the clinicians at Ipswich pride themselves on never turning anyone away, and nobody has waited more than eight hours for a bed."

The alarming figures have been revealed by the Ipswich Primary Care Trust.

In August, just seven people waited longer than four hours for a bed. In September that number increased to 36, and it doubled again last month to 73 – representing a jump of almost 1,000 per cent in two months.

The problem has been caused by a hike in urgent admissions – partly due to changes in the weather – and an increase in the number of bed-blockers.