The anonymous worker wrote a letter expressing "deep concerns" about the effect a ward closure is having on services at Grantham Hospital.

It said some patients have to wait for hours on trolleys and some staff are working 19-hour shifts.

The NHS trust has confirmed there were problems last weekend and is assessing what should be done differently.

Bed shortage

Healthcare union Unison says cuts in the number of hospital beds are to blame for the problems in emergency care.

Unison spokesman Andy Freeman said: "I share the view (that lives are at risk from lack of services) and we are worried about the crisis in healthcare in Lincolnshire."

The letter, sent to United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust managers and seen by the BBC, also alleges patients are being left on trolleys for hours.

The hospital trust says it can be necessary to transfer patients to other hospitals and it will look to see if there is anything that should be done differently in the future.

If you closed your eyes and thought this was happening in a Third World country, you would be saddened by the events Anonymous letter

The letter also claims there was a consistent lack of intensive care beds and no support for overstretched A & E staff.

It also said senior medical staff had to ring around Lincolnshire and other counties trying to find beds.

"If you closed your eyes and thought this was happening in a Third World country, you would be saddened by the events," the letter said.

It also raises concerns about staff working in such a high pressured environment without a proper break.

Mrs Sylvia Knight, chief nurse, said: "At times of extreme pressure on inpatient services it can sometimes be necessary to transfer to other hospitals those patients requiring emergency admission.

"Our staff follow dedicated procedures in order to find the nearest, most appropriate hospital for this.

"I am aware that over the weekend of 8 and 9 October it was necessary to transfer patients from Grantham and District Hospital.