Rise in viruses blamed as A&Es under pressure

The new A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital opened in October

Emergency departments in Worcestershire are facing huge pressures as winter viruses spread, hospital bosses have said.

They said Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester and the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch were both facing high numbers of patients.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has urged people to help by using the right health services for their needs.

This includes calling 111 or visiting GPs and pharmacists.

Dr David Raven, divisional director of urgent care, said January was the time of year when A&Es were at their busiest.

"Both of our sites at the Alexandra Hospital and the Worcestershire Royal Hospital are facing quite significant pressure, which does feel unprecedented," he said.

"We have high levels of viruses circulating in the community and lots of people in hospital who are quite poorly."

People who have family in hospital have also been asked to support staff in getting them home.

Dr Raven added: "What we desperately need to do is create beds so that we can get people from the emergency department, and out of ambulances, into our departments to treat them properly."