During a week which has featured strike action from nurses and paramedics and the North East Ambulance Service forced to declare a critical incident, regional NHS bosses have urged the public once again not to call 999 unless someone's life is endangered.
The North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) described the situation facing our region's health and social care services as "the highest levels of pressure ever seen". Health leaders have now reiterated a plea for people to help NHS services prioritise those in the direst need.
Dr Neil O'Brien, executive medical director of the ICB, paid tribute to staff who had worked hard throughout a testing winter week, and thanked members of the public for their support thus far. He said: "We'd like to thank people and communities for their support and the way they have used services during this exceptionally busy period.
