Bed blocking is causing further delays at a Norfolk hospital that is already struggling with Accident and Emergency admissions.

Last month, 518 people did not undergo planned surgical procedures at the James Paget University Hospital (JPH) in Gorleston within the target of 18 weeks. JPH bosses already admitted that mounting emergency pressures were partly responsible - there were 20 more patients than expected arriving at hospital by ambulance every week in January, on top of a 9.12pc increase in demand for A&E care.

At their board meeting in Great Yarmouth today, JPH trustees heard how bed blocking also impacted on patients due to have routine procedures.

In his report to the board, interim director of operations Mark Henry said they 'needed to re-examine internal ways of working so we can demonstrate that we are doing all in our power to address the issues relating to admissions and discharges'

There were 40 patients this week alone who had been assessed ahead discharge but with 'no clear indication' of where they were going.

Trustee Peter Franzen suggested frontline staff took a firmer approach to bed blocking patients, making it clear that staying at hospital unnecessarily often meant another patient would have a procedure cancelled and often at the last minute.

Recounting one patient's personal experience, director of nursing Liz Libiszewski said one woman waiting for a gynaecological procedure had it cancelled four times; three times because of bed shortages.

Another patient had an operation cancelled ten minutes before they were due to leave the house to travel to hospital.

Mr Henry said progress was being made and a 'recovery plan' was in place to reduce the backlog in both discharge delays and cancelled operations.