The East Lancashire Hospital Trust urges people to visit A and E only if they are in a life-threatening condition.
This comes after an increase in patient admissions that left the emergency room “very busy”.
The Trust, which runs the Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital, says people can expect long delays if their condition is not serious.
They wrote on Facebook: “There are currently 119 people in our emergency and emergency centers and you can wait a long time if your condition is not serious.
“If in doubt, please contact https://111.nhs.uk/ to be signposted to the right place. They can even book an appointment for you if necessary. ”
Jackie Murray, Assistant Director of Nursing for Emergency and Acute Pathways at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said, “The pressures on our emergency room team and overall health and care system are extremely challenging right now, with some of the highest Visitor numbers we’ve ever seen.
“Our colleagues strive to provide safe, personal, and effective care for all of our patients – but the high attendance in our A&E and emergency centers can make this much more difficult.
“Please support us by only going to the hospital if you have serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
“In all other cases, please contact NHS 111 first, either online at 111.nhs.uk or by phone at 111, where you will be given advice and directed to the most suitable location for your care or, if necessary, an appointment.
“Please choose the service that best suits your needs. This enables us to provide for those who need us most in this challenging environment. Our employees have worked incredibly hard over the past 18 months as part of our response to COVID and are tired.
“By making the right choices, you are helping them do the best possible job and reducing the pressures they face.”
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