Royal Bolton Hospital's Emergency Department is facing "extreme pressure" from "very high demand," prompting Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to appeal for public patience and understanding.
The trust said some patients whose conditions are not considered emergencies may be asked to return at another time for an appointment, as staff prioritise those who need emergency treatment.
Trust's plea on Facebook
The trust wrote on Facebook: "Please help us during a time of extreme pressure. Our Emergency Department is currently experiencing very high demand."
"To help us manage this pressure and prioritise patients who need emergency care, we may ask people whose condition is not considered an emergency to return at another time for an appointment."
"If you are given an appointment, please arrive at your allocated time. You will be seen at the time of your appointment and not before."
"Thank you for your patience, understanding and support while our teams work hard to care for those who need us most."
Ongoing pressures in emergency care
The warning comes after the trust reported ongoing pressures in emergency care in its latest board papers. At a meeting on September 24, the trust said its A&E four-hour performance and ambulance handover performance remained "significantly below" its target, due to increased demand and workforce pressures.
Figures published earlier this year show that 66.5 per cent of A&E patients were seen, treated, admitted or discharged within four hours in June, down from 68.7 per cent in May and below the trust's 72 per cent target.
Focus of improvement efforts
The trust said improvement to emergency care is focusing on patient flow, workforce capacity, alternative care pathways, length of stay and discharging patients.
