THE Alexandra Hospital has been under increased pressure over the last few days following an influx of trauma patients who were transferred from a flooded hospital in Worcester.

And all non-emergency elective surgery had to be cancelled as it received patients from Castle Street Hospital, where rising water levels threatened electricity supplies.

At 1pm on Thursday, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust decided to evacuate Castle Street and most of the patients were moved to wards at Ronkswood and Newtown hospitals.

But two were transferred to the Alexandra for specialist orthopaedic care, meaning cancelled surgery for existing patients.

And all trauma patients from across the county, such as those involved in car accidents, have since been taken to the Alexandra, meaning an additional 18 beds had to be opened up.

A hospital spokesman said: "We had 11 patients' operations cancelled on Thursday and then a further three the following day - these were all inpatients at the hospital.

"Since then, all trauma patients have also been transferred to the hospital.

"Obviously, this has caused the hospital to be busier but everybody is working extremely hard and we are coping well.

"The trust would like to express its gratitude for all the support it has received from staff throughout this situation."

Castle Street opened for outpatient appointments yesterday but all trauma cases are still being diverted to Redditch.

The trust will make a decision on resuming inpatient surgery at the Worcester hospital once the threat of flooding from the latest heavy rainfall has been assessed.

Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox will be visiting the Alexandra with Redditch's Tory prospective Parliamentary candidate Karen Lumley on Friday, November 17, to view the situation after the county's health service re-organisation.