The agency last night confirmed that over 50 people - including four children - suffered severe food poisoning.

The staffing shortages will have a knock-on effect on daytime psychiatric assessment of children and young people.

As part of measures to deal with overcrowding non-urgent operations are postponed to allow hospitals provide beds for patients coming in through emergency departments.

Criticism of the ambulance dispatch service arose yesterday after an injured 14-year-old had to wait ‘unacceptably’ long for an ambulance.