THE NHS has issued a warning to Herefordshire as pressure grows to pre-Covid levels.

The Wye Valley NHS Trust, which runs Herefordshire's only accident and emergency department, warned people with minor injuries they might not be treated quickly.

At Hereford County Hospital, there was a wait of more than 15 hours in A&E on Monday, which follows other waits of more than four hours over the last month.

Andy Parker, chief operating officer at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: “While A&E is open, people who turn up with minor ailments could face a long wait as priority will be given to seriously ill patients.

“Our team of staff in A&E will be working over the Easter weekend, but with the high number of patients attending, we will prioritise patients and those with minor injuries that could be treated elsewhere may have a long wait.

“We’re here for you if you need medical care, but please choose wisely and consider alternatives to A&E to make sure you get the right care and treatment you need.”

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Dr Ian Tait, GP and chair of the CCG, said: “We are seeing increased pressure on all our services and we are asking people for their support – to access the right NHS service for their need.

"If you need help when your local GP Surgery is not open, you can call 111, which is a free NHS Service and can quickly direct you to the right health service, including out of hours GP appointments. Pharmacists can also help with a range of common conditions and minor injuries.” 

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Nathan Hudson, emergency services operations delivery director at West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “The ambulance service is available 24/7 and ready to assist when you need us, but we do need the public to think whether there are alternatives to ringing 999, particularly if your call is not a life-threatening emergency.

"If you are unsure which service to use, try ringing 111 first: if you need an ambulance it won’t delay the dispatch of our crews but it could mean that you get a more appropriate service for your needs.  If we all use the health service wisely then everyone benefits.”