Health: 'Life and limb-threatening emergencies only' plea from Calderdale's hospital amid soaring pressure on NHS

The trust that runs Calderdale Royal Hospital is asking people to help them ensure they can care for those most in need by seeking medical treatment elsewhere if at all possible.

It says there has been a massive rise in the number of people going to A and E, and is warning of “very long waiting times”.

Amjid Mohammed, Accident and Emergency Consultant at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our hospitals, like others across West Yorkshire, are currently facing extreme pressures and exceptionally high levels of demand.

"Our colleagues are doing all they can to keep people as safe as possible under difficult circumstances, but there are extremely long waits to be seen in our A and E departments.

"We need the public’s help to support our urgent and emergency care services by only attending Accident and Emergency for life or limb-threatening conditions.

“If your condition is not a life-threatening emergency, please visit NHS 111 Online for advice on where to get help. The West Yorkshire Together We Can website is also an excellent resource for people looking for alternative health services.”

Meantime nationally, the NHS has warned pressure from flu on the health service continues to grow, with cases in hospitals across the country now more than seven times higher than last month.

Data out today (Friday) shows there were 3,746 patients a day in hospital with flu last week - up from 520 a month ago. Of those in hospital last week, 267 were in critical care beds.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has also made an appeal for the return of community equipment, saying it is seeing high demand for equipment and aids needed to discharge patients.

Anyone who has hospital equipment that they no longer need can arrange a return by calling 01422 261399 for Calderdale Royal Hospital and 01484 728970 for Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Information about which services can help with different medical issues can be found at https://togetherwe-can.com/

Anyone who is unsure where to go can call the NHS on 111 or visit https://111.nhs.uk/