A hospital boss has claimed one of the biggest pressures on the service is recruiting and keeping staff.

Ben Travis, chief executive of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth, some services at Queen Mary’s and Erith Hospital, was speaking at a scrutiny meeting at Greenwich Council.

Mr Travis said the trust faces several pressures, but top of the charts was keeping a well trained workforce.

He said: “The biggest challenge is around our workforce. Recruiting and retaining the right number and skills in staff.

“There are significant national shortages in some areas, there’s a very challenging position recruiting qualified nurses. We are struggling in some areas recruiting for medical posts.”

Nearby hospitals that offer more services are finding it easier to recruit skilled staff, according to the chief executive.

“It’s something we are working very hard on,” he added.

Last year, there were more than 35,000 vacant nursing positions in England

It comes as the A&E department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich faces record levels of attendees, with more than 580 people turning up on Monday to a department built for 300.

“It’s important to realise the knock on impact. If we don’t have beds in the ward we need to find space, it is something we need to work on,” Mr Travis said.

The hospital is required to see 95 per cent A&E patients within four hours, a target the chief exec said is achieved on a sporadic basis.

Patient surveys for the trust suggests, however, high levels of satisfaction with the services.