Surrey hospitals and healthcare trusts declare 'critical incident'
This follows a record number of people attending A&E
East Surrey Hospital and Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership have declared a 'critical incident' - as record numbers of people are attending A&E.
This means that emergency measures are in place to make sure all patients are seen to and receive the proper care.
As a result of this, Surrey and East Hampshire residents are now being reminded to only call 999 when there is a life-threatening emergency.
We spoke to Dr Charlotte Canniff, who is a GP and Joint Chief Medical Officer for the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System.
She said: "999 is for life-threatening emergencies.
"Please only attend A&E likewise if you have either a life-threatening emergency, if you've had an accident or have been advised to go there by a clinician.
"For minor illnesses and minor injuries, please remember your local pharmacies who are available as are walk-in centres and minor-injury units.
"111 online can also give you really helpful advice on what to do with minor injuries and illnesses."
Dr Canniff also provided some insight into why this 'critical incident' declaration has occurred.
She said: "Everybody is under sustained pressure, there is a lot of respiratory illness out there, a resurgence of Covid and quite a lot of flu.
"This means there are quite a lot of sick people requiring hospital and healthcare services.
"We're also really struggling to discharge patients who are medically fit for discharge and are ready to go back to their own beds.
"But for whatever reason we cannot discharge them, often they may require additional care support in their homes, need a short stay in a nursing home or rehab bed - which are full.
"So if you have a relative in hospital who is fit for discharge, please support the hospital in getting that patient home."