Health chiefs have tonight confirmed that both Ayr and Crosshouse hospitals have reached their full capacity.
The two major hospitals serving the region have run out of beds.
Officials at NHS Ayrshire & Arran are having to make room in community hospitals and are receiving support from care homes as they deal with the crisis.
It comes as Nicola Sturgeon warned that Scotland's NHS faces its 'worst ever winter' with an unprecedented demand for services.
The First Minister addressed the ongoing health concerns at a briefing today where she confirmed that 95 per cent of Scotland's hospitals were running at full capacity.
A spike in flu cases and a rise in Strep A infections have left wards on the brink, with Ms Sturgeon urging Scots to wear face masks in public indoor spaces to help healthcare staff.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran say that staff absence is hammering urgent and unscheduled care services at both the Kilmarnock and Ayr hospitals.
Joanne Edwards, Director of Acute Services, said: "Our urgent and unscheduled care services in both University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse are under extreme pressure at this time.
"This is due to a combination of staff absence across the whole health and care system, high bed occupancy levels in our acute and community hospitals, some delayed transfers of care and high volumes of frail patients whose recovery includes complex care.
"We have opened all available beds across both our acute hospitals and are at full capacity.
"Within our health and social care partnerships, we have increased the capacity of our community hospitals and have the support of care and residential homes also."
Meanwhile, union bosses at Unison have warned that NHS staff are being "pushed to their limit."
Chair of UNISON Scotland's health committee, Wilma Brown, said: "NHS staff are being pushed to the absolute limit.
"Our patients and staff are not safe in these conditions and they deserve so much better."
Ms Edwards added: "Our dedicated staff are working tirelessly to try and improve the situation under challenging conditions. We ask for your patience and support in these matters."
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