HEALTH chiefs opened operating theatres at the Royal Bolton Hospital on Good Friday following a sudden rise in the number of people being admitted with broken bones.
It meant medical staff at the hospital had to work overtime.
At least 10 extra operations needed to be carried out on Friday for procedures such as pins being put in broken legs and arms. The operating theatres would usually be closed on Good Friday, apart from emergency procedures.
Hospital bosses are baffled as to what caused the increase in the number of cases at the start of the Easter holiday weekend.
Michelle Hughes, the department manager for theatres, anaesthetics and critical care, said: "We've had a surge of patients coming, unexpectedly, through accident and emergency, with broken wrists and things like that, but we have no idea what's caused this.
"We already have a team of emergency theatre staff, but we had to put on additional operating lists and staff have been working overtime."
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