Hospitals facing high demand amid winter pressures

Hospitals in Hull and Lincolnshire are asking for help from patients to free up space in emergency departments

Hospitals are asking for help from patients as they face a high volume of visitors.

Hull Royal Infirmary has asked patients to bring only one relative if needing to attend A&E in a bid to help free up space in the department.

NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has asked patients to "use services appropriately" and seek other sources for help and advice if not in need of emergency or life-saving treatment.

Winter pressures mean A&E departments tend to be "very busy" at this time of year.

NHS Lincolnshire ICB said it is "very busy" across its A&E and Urgent and Emergency Care centres

Hull Royal Infirmary stated: "The Emergency Department is really busy today, so we’re asking patients and their families to help us.

"We understand you may be worried but please delegate one member of your family to update other relatives to help us free up space in our department."

Hospitals across Lincolnshire are also facing similar strains, with a number of children attending A&E departments with respiratory problems.

A spokesperson from NHS Lincolnshire ICB said: "Local A&Es and Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) are very busy, so we're asking people to use services appropriately and look to other sources of help and advice, such as NHS 111 and community pharmacies for anything that isn't life-threatening or an emergency, such as colds, ear aches and sore throats."

Advice has been issued through the NHS on how to deal with breathing difficulties or noisy breathing in children.

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