HEART attack sufferers have allegedly been left stranded by medical staff up to five times after a centralised switchboard system at Warrington General Hospital failed to alert doctors.

Since hospital chiefs decided to transfer the switchboard from Halton General to Warrington, the move has led to 'operation meltdown' and delays, allegedly leaving patients at risk.

Angry hospital staff have denounced the decision and are demanding managers transfer the switchboard back to Halton.

Apart from a series of operational gaffes, it is claimed North Cheshire Hospital Trust is wasting hundreds of pounds picking switchboard operators up from Halton Hospital to ferry them to Warrington. The NHS is forking out an estimated £300bill every week in taxi fares.

Following a formal consultation with staff, it has been revealed a test of the switchboard was unable to contact doctors in sufficient time to inform them of emergencies.

On the day the system switched over, hospital managers apparently knew the system was at fault but didn't take action.

This led to three occasions when cardiac patients were allegedly put at unnecessary risk - on May 26, June 3 and June 6. And there have been two more reported incidents since then.

One exasperated member of staff, who does not wish to be named, wrote to the Weekly News: 'I am a member of staff at Halton Hospital and I am involved in cardiac arrest calls.

'Since the switchboard has moved, there have been three occasions when cardiac arrest calls have been put through to Warrington switchboard but have not then been received by doctors at Halton.'

The staff member went on to claim: 'Management knew the system wasn't working on the first day it switched over. Someone is going to die.'

Another member of staff also hit out, saying: 'When there is what we call a 'crash' - when someone has had a heart attack for example - it is up to the switchboard to contact the doctors as soon as possible.

'But when the system was being tested, it was complete meltdown.'

North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust admits it has had some technical problems.

John Doyle, finance director, said: 'We are aware that there have been some technical hitches but we have made considerable improvements to the system.

'On every occasion a senior professional has investigated the malfunctions and we are satisfied that these have not affected any patients' care.'