Emergency departments under 'extreme pressure'
BBCEmergency departments at several Devon hospitals are under "extreme pressure", health bosses have said.
The NHS Royal Devon Trust, which covers North Devon District Hospital and Royal Devon and Exeter Hospitals, said its emergency departments had high numbers of very unwell patients.
Darryn Allcorn, chief nurse at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said the emergency department at Derriford Hospital was "very full" and patients faced "exceptionally long wait times".
Bosses at Torbay Hospital said they were seeing many people in the emergency department who could be treated by another service.
Allcorn said it was "really important" to make sure the sickest patients were prioritised.
"Therefore, we ask that at this time unless you are a carer or if the patient who is coming to the hospital is particularly distressed, that those who accompany patients do not to come into the Emergency Department," he said.
"We need the seating spaces for patients to sit down and be comfortable."
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust said the emergency department at Torbay Hospital was "incredibly busy".
"Only use our emergency department if you need life-saving care for conditions such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness or severe bleeding," it said.
The NHS trusts urged people to choose the appropriate service based on their needs.
Officials said other healthcare services - including NHS 111, urgent treatment centres, minor injury units and GP surgeries - could be used if someone did not have an emergency or life-threatening condition.
University Hospitals Plymouth said: "Our colleagues are working hard to prioritise patients based on their clinical need and move patients to the right place for them as soon as possible.
"If you have a very serious or life-threatening emergency, we are here for you, but otherwise, if you need urgent care, we ask you please to call NHS 111 or use NHS 111 online."
Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].
