ALL non-urgent operations have been cancelled at Warrington Hospital until the end of the week as staff cope with a surge in emergency admissions.

Halton Hospital, Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre and Whiston Hospital are reviewing routine operations and out patient appointments and will inform patients if their procedures are cancelled.

NHS England today instructed all hospitals to cancel non-urgent operations and appointments to free up hospital staff and beds.

Professor Simon Constable, deputy chief executive and executive medical director at Warrington and Halton Hospitals, said: “Like many acute hospitals, Warrington and Halton Hospitals remain under sustained pressure with emergency admissions.

“We made the decision to open up another additional ward yesterday evening and this has been helpful but on its own it has not had the positive impact that we needed.

“We are working to all the elements of our full capacity protocol as well as taking additional measures where appropriate.”

“We have been instructed by NHS England to cancel all non-urgent operations and appointments. “We have cancelled all non-urgent operations on our Warrington site for the remainder of this week, carefully assessing the risk in each case. “We are currently reviewing our non-urgent operations and outpatient appointments at Halton hospital and Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre as well as outpatient appointments at Warrington hospital. “We plan to cancel further non-urgent operations and appointments where doing so will release clinical staff and bed capacity to care for our urgent and emergency patients.”

“We are working closely with our primary care and local authority partners.”

A spokesman for Cheshire and Merseyside NHS said: “Hospitals carry out fewer scheduled operations at this time of year as we plan for increased demand.

“Local hospitals are reviewing their existing scheduled appointments and operations and will contact patients directly if their appointment is to be rescheduled.

“If you have not been contacted, please attend as expected. Check your hospitals’ website in advance.

“Like the rest of the country, local hospitals continue to be extremely busy and we would like to thank our staff for all their hard work. Please only go to A&E if your condition is urgent or serious.”

Whiston Hospital says it is experiencing a high volume of patients, particularly frail and elderly people suffering from serious complications of flu and respiratory illness.

Patients are being urged to visit their local pharmacy if they get the flu or the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Dr Kevin Hardy, medical director, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The flu and norovirus are pretty nasty and can make people feel very ill.

“However, most people do not need hospital care for these illnesses. “Emergency departments are very busy at this time of year and those attending with minor illnesses will wait, often for long periods.

“This is so we can look after patients with serious or life-threatening conditions.

“Spreading germs can also put other people at risk. We are asking the people of Merseyside to make sure they know what to do if they have flu or Norovirus.”

Sue Redfern, director of nursing, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, added: “Keeping A&E free for people who really need it most helps us to help your loved ones.

“Our staff are working incredibly hard to look after our patients at a time of increased demand.

“Help support your NHS by taking this advice on board. It is also essential that family and friends of patients who may be ill or have symptoms of flu or have diarrhoea and vomiting do not visit their loved ones in hospital until they have been symptom free for at least 48 hours.”

Patients with illnesses or injuries that are not life threatening are advised to go to Runcorn urgent care centre at Halton Hospital or Widnes urgent care centre on Caldwell Road.

Patients are advised to ensure they have their flu vaccination and can visit their local Pharmacy or call NHS 111 for advice on non-urgent illnesses.