'Exceptionally busy' weekend for A&E at Royal Cornwall Hospital sparks urgent plea
People are being urged to use other services unless it is a life-threatening emergency
Cornwall's hospital bosses are making repeat calls to avoid A&E at Treliske unless it is a life-threatening emergency, after what has so far been described as an exceptionally busy weekend.
Posting on social media on Saturday, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' NHS Trust said: "It’s an exceptionally busy start to the weekend for our emergency department.
"If it’s not a life-threatening issue, please use alternative services including minor injury units or call 111 for advice".
It follows a board meeting last week, during which several warnings were made about issues like bed-blocking and a rising number of Covid cases.
At the end of last week, more than 40 patients in our hospitals had coronavirus and sites are asking everyone to wear face masks.
People are being asked to avoid casualty unless it is a serious or life-threatening emergency.
If you require urgent care, the advice is to contact 111 rather than turning up at A&E or to use alternative services like pharmacists for anything non-urgent.
People are also being urged to collect loved ones waiting to leave hospital as quickly as they can.
In another post on Sunday, the RCHT said: "The best way you can #HelpUsHelpYou is to get you're loved ones home when they're ready and make sure their house is ready for them.
"The quicker they return home, the faster their recovery will be".
You can find information where else to go for treatment and check live waiting times at our main hospitals and urgent care centres on the RCHT website.