HOSPITAL chiefs are urging patients to 'get ready' for the Christmas break so they can avoid needing A&E over the festive period.

Warrington Hospital experienced a very busy weekend last week with an increase in emergency admissions.

It follows the North West Ambulance Service reporting record figures for demand on 999 services across the region.

Hospital doctors on Lovely Lane are asking people to make sure they only use A&E for serious or life-threatening conditions so that they can focus on speedily treating people who urgently need their care.

Dr Paul Hughes, medical director at Warrington and Halton Hospitals said: “The colder weather has meant that we've seen an increase in patients with severe respiratory and other conditions that need our emergency care services and admission to hospital wards.

"That in turn makes A&E much busier for our doctors and nurses.

“If you don't have a condition that you think requires immediate hospital care then other options including self-care, expert pharmacy advice, making an appointment with your GP or our minor injuries at Halton General Hospital may be more suitable and you will be seen quicker in most cases.

“Over the year we’ve still been seeing and treating nine out of ten patients who come to A&E within four hours and the staff are working incredibly hard and doing a fantastic job to do that. However, at times like this waits for non-urgent cases become longer and getting the right care will help avoid that.”

The trust is also backing a national NHS campaign called ‘under the weather?’ that’s encouraging people feeling poorly to take quick action by using their pharmacist to get advice and self-care medication to stop underlying health problems worsening. With Christmas just days away it's even more important to get on top of any health problems.

Visit nhs.uk or warringtonccg.nhs.uk.