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Hospitals experience unprecedented levels of activity
Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals have warned the public not to visit A&E unless it is an emergency in the wake of a fortnight of unprecedented levels of activity.
Icy conditions on the roads, coupled with the increased risk of an outbreak of the norovirus in the winter months have put increased strain on hospital staff.
Ashford and St Peter's NHS Trust's Deputy Chief Nurse, Vanessa Avlonitis said: "I would like to ask the public to think twice about whether a visit to A&E is really necessary, or if they could use the services of their GP or local Walk-in Centre instead.
"The A&E department should only be used when people have suffered trauma, had an accident or have developed a serious illness and are unable to receive advice from their local pharmacist, GP or Walk-in Centre."
Anybody visiting a hospital that does not meet these criteria could be preventing others who do need essential treatment from getting it. This together with the potential spread of the highly contagious 24-hour vomiting bug, the norovirus, mean that taking the decision to visit a hospital should only be made as a last resort.
For further information the public is advised to contact NHS Direct on: 08457 4647
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