HOSPITAL bosses are urging people to think twice before heading for A&E at Russells Hall Hospital due to “extreme pressure” on services.

Paul Bytheway, Chief Operating Officer at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust which runs the borough’s main hospital, says unless there’s a genuine, life-threatening emergency patients should first visit their GP, a local pharmacist or call NHS 111 for advice before presenting at the busy accident and emergency department – which was swamped by a 50 per cent rise in the number of people needing to be admitted today (Tuesday January 5).

He said: “We’ve had a really busy festive period with an unprecedented number of very poorly patients arriving at our A&E Department.

“This high demand has continued into this week, and today alone we have seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of patients needing to be admitted into hospital.

“This inevitably puts extreme pressure on staff and services and so, to ensure we can give urgent and emergency care to the people most in need, we would ask people to consider other options before coming to A&E.

“Unless patients have a genuine emergency or life threatening condition, we would urge them to contact their GP, visit a local pharmacist or call NHS 111 for free advice.”