TWO people were last night in intensive care with swine flu as Poole Hospital faced up to the flu crisis.

The hospital had another 11 patients with suspected swine flu in other wards in addition to the two seriously ill on ventilators.

Nationally 50 people have died from flu this winter, with swine flu, or H1N1, claiming 45 of the victims. The number of people in intensive care peaked earlier this week at 850.

Poole has already upped the number of ventilator beds from five to seven to cope with demand – but only has equipment to put a further two patients on ventilation.

Beyond that those with the severe respiratory problems, which can result from the flu, could only been accommodated temporarily until a bed became available in Poole or elsewhere.

The hospital has assured people that plans are in place to handle the increased seasonal demand. It has already opened an additional 30 general beds, in addition to the two extra intensive care beds.

A spokesman told the Daily Echo: “We would like to reassure the public that we have got plans in place to deal with the increased volume of work that we see at this time of year, as demonstrated by the 30 extra beds and the two extra ventilation beds.”

In preparation for the anticipated extra demand the hospital had already postponed all elective non-urgent operations – for example tonsillectomies – over Christmas and New Year and into the first week of January. Such operations are due to restart next week.

Hospitals across the country are cancelling planned operations to free up beds as the number of seriously ill flu patients rises.

But a spokesman for Royal Bournemouth Hospital said they were coping well with demand.

She added: “We currently have capacity within our existing number of intensive care beds. We are also able to increase capacity within the intensive care unit if needed.

“The trust has robust plans in place to support business continuity during the winter months, which is always a busy period.”

She said measures included opening an additional ward at Christchurch for three months and upping staffing levels.

As the flu claims more victims the clamour for the flu vaccinations, which protect against swine flu and two other strains of seasonal flu, has seen stocks run out in some areas. On Thursday the government announced it would release swine flu vaccines stockpiled last winter to overcome the shortfalls. The advice is still for anyone in an at risk group, including those with medical conditions like asthma, pregnant women and the elderly, to call their GP to arrange a flu jab.