Pressures on services sees hospitals declare alert

Two Lancashire hospitals have declared their "highest level" of alert due to increasing pressures on services.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals has said it had escalated to Level 4 on the system the NHS uses to grade demand - meaning a hospital is "unable to deliver comprehensive care"

The trust said it was the second time in recent weeks that it had happened and it can take additional steps to maintain patient safety.

These include cancelling non-essential meetings and speaking to patients and families about arranging their own transport home.

Patients were advised to only attend A&E for serious accidents and emergencies and visit a pharmacist for minor health issues.

"As always, patient safety must take priority and we need to take action to make sure that those who are more clinically urgent get the help they need as quickly as possible," a spokesman said.

"Our teams continue to work exceptionally hard and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that in spite of the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them so if you require urgent medical help, please continue to come forward."

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