SCOTTISH hospitals are experiencing bed shortages all year round, according to a survey of nursing staff.

Nearly nine out of ten ward nurses said bed capacity in their hospital was under pressure. Almost as many, 80%, said patients had to be moved between departments or units because of the problem.

Some 950 nurses took part in the survey, which was conducted by the Royal College of Nursing Scotland.

Theresa Fyffe, RCN Scotland director, said: "We have soaring patient demand, which is putting pressure on staff all year round and people coming into hospital are more severely ill and often have more than one illness or long term condition.

"This is only going to increase in the coming years given our ageing population."

Asked to compare the type of patients they see now with the same time last year, 63% of the nurses participating said people were more severely ill.

Ms Fyffe added: "The reality is those working on the frontline are trying to do their best, but there are just not enough staff, enough beds or enough resources within the system to deal with the increase in patients and the increasing severity of their illnesses. "

The number of available staffed beds in acute specialties was 16,085 in the last quarter of 2012, down 1.6% on 2011.