Boards have made plans for winter bed demands

NHS boards have set aside �12m to pay for extra bed space and an increase in the numbers of nurses.

But Dr Jean Turner MSP, who was elected to Holyrood as a hospital campaigner, said patients were suffering because there were not enough nurses to cover wards.

The MSP, who represents Strathkelvin and Bearsden, said: "As nurses we are terrified of the winter coming because we can hardly cope.

Extra capacity

"It is really unfair for the patients and it is unfair for the staff that have to work under such conditions.

"It is no wonder they cannot recruit nurses."

Scotland's chief medical officer Mac Armstrong said he had been working with the executive and health boards to provide extra funding.

"�12m is being spent by boards this year for extra beds, extra staff, extra wards, extra capacity and surge capacity.

"That is in addition to �30m to improve capacity in the community and to reduce delayed discharges.

Boards have submitted their plans and a range of measures, including additional capacity, more equipment and extra staff, are in place across the country. Trevor Jones NHS Scotland

"And it is in addition to new and innovative schemes, for example, to reduce the need for hospitalisation - such as rapid reaction teams working in the community."

He said there was also a major immunisation programme to protect against winter illnesses such as flu.

NHS Scotland Chief Executive Trevor Jones said: "Over the last few months we have been working to ensure that the NHS is well equipped to deal with winter pressures this year.

"Boards have submitted their plans and a range of measures, including additional capacity, more equipment and extra staff, are in place across the country.

"We are working actively with the boards to ensure that lessons have also been learned from previous years and good practice is being shared."

Vaccination call

There have been calls to extend flu vaccinations beyond the current at risk groups such as the elderly and infirm to include all children.

But Scotland's chief medical officer, Mac Armstrong, said the proposal has been ruled out by a team of experts.

Mr Armstrong said: "They are satisfied that the current vaccination programme is robust.

"That involves offering the vaccine to children with particular needs and that is vulnerable children with chronic cardiac, respiratory and renal disease, children who are immune suppressed.