HEALTHWATCH Herefordshire has called for a “fundamental review” of bed use at Hereford County Hospital.

Healthwatch chairman Paul Deneen said funding should be found for at least another 40 beds.

“It is now clear that to deal with the unprecedented and everincreasing demands at the hospital, and to ensure that the problem is future proofed, additional funding and infrastructure will be required to support another 40 beds being added, which if agreed, would take overall capacity to 250 beds,” said Mr Deneen.

In the short term, he said, it was “vitally important” that anyone with a non-urgent condition sought alternatives to A&E such as community pharmacies, NHS 111, GPs, the walk in centre at Hereford ASDA or the extended hours GP surgeries at Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Hereford, City.