Edinburgh families may be asked to look after their loved ones currently in hospital in a bid to free up beds over the winter period.
Issuing an urgent update on Wednesday, NHS Lothian stated that the health board is dealing with "unprecedented challenges" and urged the community to try and help with the burden.
Confirming that hospitals and GPs in the capital are currently being stretched beyond capacity, the pressures are being said to be down to an increase in the numbers of emergency patients, large numbers of delayed discharge patients and an increase in respiratory illnesses.
