There are 300 intensive care beds for children There could be a shortage of intensive care beds for children this winter because of swine flu, experts say.Cambridge University researchers used official government predictions to look at how UK hospitals would cope. They said during a peak week half of the 300-plus beds could be taken up by flu patients, putting strain on units that are often running close to full. But the government said the NHS should be able to cope - albeit with some emergency measures put in place. The Tories have already raised concerns about intensive care preparations. While the pandemic virus has been mild for many, an increasing number are ending up in hospital and this has begun to filter through to intensive care. Paediatric intensive care will be one of the first areas of the NHS to feel the pressure Dr Roddy O'Donnell, lead researcher The under fives are the age group most likely to need such treatment and with the government estimating a third of chlildren may be infected this winter the researchers decided to look at how hospitals would cope.[Read more...]