Critical incident declared by NHS trust

Hospitals in South Warwickshire are currently "very busy" an NHS trust has said

A critical incident has been declared at hospitals in South Warwickshire amid a "consistently high" demand on services.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust said it had experienced "some of the highest" attendances it had ever seen at the emergency department in Warwick in the past week.

Patients have been warned to expect long waiting times while medical staff offer treatment.

On Tuesday, NHS Trusts in areas including Birmingham, Liverpool, Plymouth and Winchester also declared critical incidents, citing high demand for emergency care.

In a statement released on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the trust said its services were currently "extremely busy".

"Clinical teams are trying to see people as quickly as possible but given the increased demand we are unable to maintain the waiting times we usually strive for, therefore please be aware that you may be waiting for a significant length of time and where possible please come prepared for this," they said.

"We are asking the public to help us manage this period of unprecedented high demand.

"We are asking you to consider which service is right for them before seeking treatment and anyone feeling unwell is advised to not visit relatives in hospital or anyone who is vulnerable in the community."

The move comes amid a sharp rise in the number of people being taken to hospital with the flu across the UK.

Data shows there were 5,000 patients with the virus being treated in hospital at the end of December - almost 3.5 times higher than the same week in 2023.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust runs Warwick Hospital, Stratford Hospital, Leamington Spa Hospital, and Ellen Badger Hospital in Shipston-on-Stour.