Hospital bosses in Bolton have urged people with 'minor issues' to avoid A&E over concerns about 'high demand' for services.
There is currently less space available at the Royal Bolton Hospital's emergency department, partly due to Covid measures on distancing and safety.
While the town is currently struggling with a large coronavirus outbreak and rising infection rates, this is not thought to have significantly increased hospital admissions.
But, Dr Francis Andrews, Medical Director at the Farnworth hospital, has warned of a strain on emergency services, caused in part by patients attending A&E when they don't need to.
"Currently we're experiencing a high demand for our emergency services and some patients are attending the A&E department with minor issues that could be dealt with elsewhere," Dr Andrews said in a statement on Twitter.
"It's really important that we save our emergency care for those who are unwell and need it the most.
"Our staff are doing an amazing job of caring for the most unwell people and making sure that they get help when they need it and providing it as quickly as they can.
"So please help them by making sure that you only attend the hospital if you have an appointment or if you have an urgent health issue."
If you have a non-urgent medical issue and you need advice, you can all 111.
Alternatively, for more information on services at the Royal Bolton Hospital, click here.
