HEALTH chiefs in Southampton have made extra beds available to cope with the influx of patients.

Although not seeing high numbers of breaks and fractures Southampton general Hospital is being kept busy with elderly patients suffering from respiratory problems.

As a result up to 30 beds that would have been used for day care patients have been converted into in-patients beds.

Steve McManus, chief operating officer, said all efforts were being made to prioritise services around the Emergency Department.

"We are doing everything we can to keep the Emergency Department as clear as possible to deal with the patients coming in.

"We would ask anyone who is due to come in for an outpatients appointment or day care who is not able to come because of the weather then to notify us immediately so we can re-prioritise our staffing resources.

"Our staff have been absolutely fantastic with up to 30 staff spending the night here to ensure they would be back in this morning. Staff also made the effort to come in extra early to ensure they were here for the start of their shifts."

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Ambulance services have also been diverted away from non-emergency care to frontline services.

Members of the public have also been praised for their efforts in helping support ambulance services throughout.

According to South Central Ambulance Service members of the public have gone above and beyond to help out ambulance crews get to patients in the snow.

On one occasion a member of the public turned up at an ambulance station with his 4 x 4 and offered his help and assistance, and was attending emergencies overnight with a paramedic.

A couple of people also helped tow an ambulance up a hill in order to get to a patient.

A spokesman for SCAS said: "Demand on the service will significantly increase under these circumstances and we urge you to be patient with us as our priority is to get to patients safely. However, we will endeavour to respond to all emergency calls as usual while we monitor the situation.

"We would advise people to be even more careful and keep warm. Only go out if it is absolutely necessary as road traffic incidents, slips and falls are common this time of the year and adverse weather conditions exacerbates accidents."