Managers say other hospitals are helping with admissions

Kettering General Hospital said an "unusually large influx of patients with serious medical problems" meant there was a backlog of patients waiting for beds.

Managers said the problem was worsened because 50 beds were occupied by patients medically fit to leave, but with no alternative care available.

They added that local general practitioners and other hospitals were helping out.

Crisis level

Medical director Dr Ahmed Mukhtar said: "The numbers of medical emergencies arriving at Kettering General Hospital over the last week has been exceptional.

"At 1030 (BST) this morning (Thursday) this reached a crisis level.

"Every bed in the hospital was full and we had 30 patients in A&E still waiting for admission - some of them occupying ambulance trolleys.

"For this reason, and in these exceptional circumstances, I am appealing to the people of north Northamptonshire not to come to our A&E department, unless it is absolutely essential, over the next 24 hours."

He said staff were fully committed to caring for sick patients, and expected the problem to be resolved quickly.