HOSPITAL bosses have denied reports that more than 40 patients were left on trolleys.

There were reports that 45 people were left waiting for treatment on trolleys after a sudden rush of patients stretched the resources at Royal United Hospital in Bath.

David Watson, clinical director for Accident and Emergency Services denied patients were left waiting in the corridor.

Ambulance crews transferred 18 low-risk patients to community hospitals, including Devizes, so emergency patients could be admitted. Others were cared for by social services and GPs.

Mr Watson said: "The hospital experienced high numbers of emergency admissions on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. We have plans in place to cope with this type of situation which were used on Monday to ensure that all our emergency patients were admitted."

He praised the teamwork of all sections of the health service and said no lives were put at risk.

All patients who were transferred were seen by the medical staff before a decision was made to move them to community hospitals.

"We work closely with community hospitals and the transfer of patients to hospitals is a routine event," he said.

Annmarie Carlen, spokesman for the Wiltshire and Swindon Health Care NHS Trust, said Devizes community hospital was one of those called upon to help because it had 15 available beds.

Mr Watson said it was a tribute to staff that operations were not cancelled.

"When help was asked for the senior management team for the hospital worked alongside the accident and emergency staff in order to effectively deal with the situation," he said.