A hospital trust in Greater Manchester has issued an urgent warning amid a 'very busy' period at its A&E department.
Wrightington, Wigan, and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust has urged people only to attend its emergency department in serious and life-threatening emergencies.
The trust looks after Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan; Wrightington Hospital; and Leigh Infirmary.
Bosses issued the warning about the emergency department at the Royal Albert Edward via Twitter at around 5pm on Friday (January 1).
"Our Emergency Department (A&E) is currently very busy," they said.
"A&E is for serious and life-threatening emergencies only. NHS 111 can help 24/7 if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.
"Please do not attend our A&E for Covid-19 testing or vaccine."
There are fears elsewhere across the country the new Covid-19 variant is putting an extra strain on already stretched hospital resources.
In London, one hospital declared they were unable to provide 'high standard critical care' because it is understaffed and swamped by Covid-19 patients.
A campaigning doctor revealed on Twitter on New Year's Eve that the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel had sent an email to notify staff of the situation.
It came after senior medics at the hospital urged bosses to declare a major incident because staff were at a 'breaking point' as the number of coronavirus patients tripled in just five days.
Just under half of all major hospital trusts in England currently have more Covid-19 patients than at the peak of the first wave of the virus, latest figures show.
A total of 596 patients have died at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19.
Wrightington, Wigan, and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted by the Manchester Evening News .
