At the last count, 82 beds in Leeds were being taken up by people with swine flu symptoms.

Another 16 were occupied at hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract.

Hospital bosses stress they are coping well with the added pressure and it is understood less than a handful of operations have so far been cancelled. But, if as predicted, swine flu levels increase, it is likely routine procedures will have to be cancelled to deal with the crisis.

The figures obtained by the YEP reveal far more suspected swine flu patients are being admitted to Leeds hospitals than elsewhere in Yorkshire.

In the last two weeks in October, 82 patients with swine flu-symptoms were given hospital beds in Leeds, compared with 42 patients in the same period in Sheffield.

Hospitals in North East Lincolnshire only admitted four patients despite seeing a higher proportion of people with suspected symptoms.

Some critics believe a lack of access to anti-viral drugs in Leeds – there is only one Tamiflu public collection point in the city – might mean more people are turning up at hospitals instead.

However, bosses at NHS Leeds say they believe existing measures are adequate and claim hospitalisation rates are higher because people are not using the National Pandemic Flu Service helpline to seek help.

A spokesman for NHS Leeds said: "We currently have one anti-viral collection point (ACP) open in the city located at J Ward at Seacroft Hospital.

"We based our decision on current rates of swine flu infections in the city and predicted rates of infection for the foreseeable future. We do, however, have plans in place to increase the number of ACPs if the need arises."

He said people could reduce pressure on hospitals by accessing help from the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 1 513 100.

A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs St James's and Leeds General Infirmary, said: "While our hospitals are working very hard to manage an increase in patients with influenza-like symptoms, these admissions have not so far had a significant impact in terms of elective operations or other hospital services.

"The Trust has robust plans in place to manage swine flu at our hospitals and protect our patients and staff, and we are confident we are as well prepared as possible.

"Our staff vaccination programme is now underway and well over 1,000 frontline staff have already been protected."

A spokeswoman for Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "In common with all other NHS organisations, we have detailed and robust plans in place to manage a swine flu outbreak at our hospitals and protect our patients and staff.

"Currently, the number of swine flu patients we have in our hospitals is not creating significant issues."

She said anyone with symptoms of flu should stay at home.

For most people it is a mild illness and they should start to feel better after a few days without needing to go to their GP or accident and emergency department.