THE worst flu outbreak in a decade saw accident and emergency at the Royal Bolton Hospital swamped with patients.

It has been revealed as the countdown starts to a Government team reporting back on how the town’s urgent care services can be improved.

Chief executive of the Royal Bolton, Lesley Doherty, told a council of governors meeting that instead of around 280 patients a day attending A&E, the hospital was seeing up to 410.

Normally 70 ambulances a day visit, but this figure reached 140 on one occasion over the festive period.

Staff from the Department of Health have visited Bolton to help with emergency care, including the Royal Bolton Hospital’s A&E department, the Walk in Centre at Lever Chambers, GPs and the North West Ambulance Service.

Health chiefs invited the team because services were under pressure and struggling to cope, particularly A&E, which has historically found it difficult to see most patients within four hours. Ms Doherty said: “Winter is always a challenge in Bolton but it was a particular challenge, it has been the worst period for 10 years of influenza. We were under considerable pressure with emergency work.”

The Government’s Intensive Support Team is expected to reveal what it has found out and recommend ways forward within the next 10 days.