A UNION is calling for politicians to provide immediate financial relief to Oxfordshire’s NHS.

The Oxfordshire Health branch of Unison has made the call after both the A&E department and inpatient wards in the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) are being overwhelmed at the weekend.

Branch communications officer Ian Mckendrick said: “The crisis has arisen because there are too few staff and beds to cope with demand due to cuts and depressed wages.

“With this year’s winter surge approaching the situation will be worse unless staff are recruited and beds opened immediately.

“Patient’s lives are being put at risk due to lack of resources to meet their needs.

“Telling people to stay away from A&E is no answer, and will put some people at risk by delaying treatment for urgent conditions.”

The union wants the Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase spending on the healthcare system so the trust can open more beds and recruit enough staff and to also pay them enough so they can live in one of the country’ most expensive cities.