'Not Enough Nhs Beds' for Second Swine Flu Wave

The NHS may not have enough intensive care beds to cope if a second wave of swine flu hits the country, the Conservative party claims today. Hospitals are already at "breaking point" and having to close critical care beds to new admissions for large parts of the year, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley says. The allegation comes amid intensifying party exchanges over the NHS. According to FOI requests returned to the Tories, almost 2,000 people in England had to be discharged early from intensive care last year while 20,000 were discharged belatedly because of shortages of other beds.