Some NHS hospitals have declared a 'critical incident' after 'exceptional pressure' on staff.
Nottingham University Hospitals today said it had "seen a large number of very poorly people arriving at our Emergency Department who need to be admitted to our hospitals suffering with respiratory conditions such as flu and trauma injuries due to the freezing weather".
It added: "This demand is causing very long waits for patients to be seen – particularly at our Emergency Department.
“As a result, we are taking additional steps to maintain patient safety. We will prioritise those patients with the highest level of need and ensure that we continue to manage emergency care.
"This means that a number of planned operations, where patients require a stay in hospital, will be postponed to prioritise patients with the most urgent clinical need. Day case procedures, where a bed is not needed, will continue."
It comes as Brits are complaining of the 'worst-ever winter bug' that feels like Covid, but isn't.
Branding their illness "the worst winter lurgy ever" bugs are sweeping the country on a level not seen since before the pandemic.
People struck by cold and flu symptoms said they were surprised to get negative results when they do lateral flow tests.
Experts said that now people are again mixing like they did in the pre-coronavirus years, unpleasant illnesses are spreading swiftly.
Last week hospital admissions for flu overtook Covid in British hospitals for the first time since early 2020 as viruses circulate during the cold weather.
People feeling rough said they were fed up with the "worst winter lurgy ever".
Dr Keith Girling, Medical Director of Nottingham University Hospitals continued: “We regret that this will impact on patients who were due to receive planned care over the next few days and sincerely apologise to all those affected. These appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible. If we have not contacted you directly, please attend your appointment as planned.
“We continue to work with our health and social care partners and ask our communities to help ease pressure on our hospitals, particularly assisting with the timely discharge of relatives.
“We know that most patients want to return home as soon as possible, especially at this time of year. If your relative is due to be discharged from hospital and needs to be collected, please do so as early as possible. This will help our teams and free up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted.”
Meanwhile North East Ambulance Services also declared a critical incident due to extreme pressures.
Stephen Segasby, chief operating officer at North East Ambulance Service, said: “Our service is under unprecedented pressure.
“Declaring a critical incident means we can focus our resources on those patients most in need and communicates the pressures we are under to our health system partners who can provide support.
“We are asking the public to call us only in a life-threatening emergency. For all other patients, we are urging them to use www.111.nhs.uk, speak to their GP or pharmacist.
“Our staff and volunteers continue to work extremely hard to respond to calls and incidents. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and commitment at this challenging time.”
