It comes after new figures have revealed that nearly nine in 10 general and acute beds at Warrington and Halton Hospital were occupied in the last week of December.
The demand is added to by winter pressures, which include an increase in the number of patients with respiratory and fly-like symptoms – which the trust says it is continuing to monitor closely.
But despite this, the team at the hospital are continuing to work hard and treat patients as ‘quickly and effectively’ as possible.
Daniel Moore, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals, said: “Our emergency department, like other hospitals across the country, continues to experience extremely high demand, with a significant increase in attendances.
“Our team are working hard to assess and treat patients as quickly and effectively as possible to reduce delays, prioritising our most unwell patients first, and we apologise to any patients experiencing a longer wait than expected.
“We’d like to reassure patients that all our services remain open, and we have robust winter plans in place to maintain services over the challenging winter period.”
The hospital is asking the public to think about whether A&E is the place they really need to be, and if not, to consider options such as GPs or local pharmacies.
Mr Moore continued: “We would ask the public to please think about whether the Emergency Department (A&E) is where they really need to be. Unless it’s a life-threatening or severe illness or injury, we urge people to contact their GP, attend their local pharmacy, urgent treatment centre or call NHS 111 for advice and care.
“People with life-threatening illnesses or injuries should continue to dial 999. Anyone who arrives at the Emergency Department will still receive medical care but may have a lengthy wait as we must prioritise those in greatest need of emergency treatment.”
The most recent NHS situation report for this winter shows Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had an average of 499 out of 569 beds occupied (88 per cent) in the week to December 29.
Across England, 89 per cent of available beds were occupied in the most recent week – an improvement on 93 per cent the previous week.
At Warrington and Halton Hospitals Trust, an average of five patients had flu in the week to December 29, with one in critical care.
It was a rise from four patients the week before.