Hospital boss responds after A&E tells people to stay away unless they're in a life-threatening condition

Bosses at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan say people have been asked to stay away from A&E unless they're in a 'life or limb threatening' condition because of 'high demand' on their services.

The hospital on Wigan Lane recently issued a warning to patients after stating that the department is 'extremely busy'.

Residents were advised to only attend if their condition is 'life or limb-threatening'. The hospital said they need to keep the area free for 'those who really need it'.

Anybody in need of care was asked to contact 111.

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In a statement to the MEN, chief operating officer, Sarah Brennan detailed that the winter period has been a 'busy time' for the hospital and has called for the public's help by urging families and friends of patients who are ready to be discharged to "support loved ones to recover at home."

Her statement in full reads: “Winter is a busy time for the NHS and we prepare for this. This week, we’ve experienced high demand on our hospital services, and in particular our Emergency Department at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary has been very busy.

“Our Emergency Department (ED) staff are working hard to ensure that people get treated as quickly as possible and will continuously prioritise patients with the highest clinical needs. This does unfortunately mean that patients with less urgent conditions will experience longer waits and we apologise for this.

“The public can help us by remembering that Emergency Departments should only be used for life, limb and sight threatening illnesses and injuries. If you need help in these situations, you must come forward. For conditions which are less urgent, please use NHS 111 online or by phone, or consider visiting a local pharmacy, walk-in centre or GP practice for support.

“To further help us during this time, we urge families and friends of patients who are ready to be discharged from our hospitals to support their loved ones to recover at home. Our teams will always make sure this transition is safe, and recovery at home is always the best option.

“As always, we do thank our staff, patients and our local community for their support and understanding during these busy times.”