A mental health trust opened additional beds for patients to cope with unprecedented demand over the bank holiday weekend.

The chief executive of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said she was forced to take “a very big decision” for additional adult beds in the county for a short period at the end of this month.

Lisa Rodrigues wrote in her midweek message that the trust could not have managed without taking this urgent step.

She also warned that the pressure was not over with demand outstripping supply throughout the NHS.

Ms Rodrigues wrote that the trust had been “inordinately busy over the past few weeks”.

Services catering for children, young people, dementia, substance misuse and those with learning disabilities were all stretched but the pressure has been felt most keenly in adult mental health.

She wrote: “Afewdays before the bank holiday weekend, I agreed to an urgent proposal from Lorraine Reid, our chief operating officer and her most senior clinicians and managers.

“This was to open some additional adult beds in Sussex for a short period. It was a very big decision.

“We don't get paid a penny extra if we do this; it actually increases our financial pressure.”

She continued by saying that the trust could not have managed over the weekend if they had not made this decision.

She added: “As it was, all our beds have been full and we have been supporting even more people at home through our crisis and home treatment teams whenever possible.

“Safety is our bottom line; not just for those already in hospital, but for those who need admission.”