Non-emergency patients are still be asked to stay away

On Thursday medical staff at Kettering General Hospital were urging people to stay away from its Accident and Emergency department for the next 24 hours unless absolutely necessary.

By Friday morning the worst was over but non-emergecy patients were still being urged not to attend.

Medical director Dr Ahmed Mukhtar thanked the public for their supportive response.

"I'd also like to thank the local GPs for their understanding and co-operation and special thanks to all the staff at the hospital who worked with great commitment and dedication to make sure all our patients were cared for in a safe and caring environment."

Allternative care

The crisis arose when the hospital had had an "unusually large influx of patients with serious medical problems".

It 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.

On Thursday morning every bed in the hospital was full and there were 30 patients in A&E still waiting for admission - some of them occupying ambulance trolleys.

It was the first time the hospital had ever had to ask people to stay away.