The treatment of 256 children was delayed due to a staffing shortage at Whipps Cross University Hospital, it has emerged.

Seven beds on the Acorn paediatric ward were closed on May 1 as a result of the shortage, leading to the four-hour waiting target for emergency treatment being missed in 256 cases.

A lack of bed space was blamed in 23 cases.

Nine children were transferred to other Barts Health trust sites.

The trust said the bed closures was a  "necessary consequence" of low staff numbers, but said there had been a recent recruitment drive.

Two band-five nurses will begin on the ward in October and five more nurses will work between Barts Health sites.

Whipps Cross Hospital has promised to continue to review bed numbers on a weekly basis, and said beds will be opened depending on the availability of staff.

The Royal College of Nursing recommends that there are only ever 4.6 patients per nurse on any children’s ward, stating that mortality rates, care quality and patient experience are affected by staffing levels.