A&E at Hereford County Hospital stays on its highest state of alert today (Wed) as daily patient numbers average between 145-150 or 20% up on what could be expected.

Yesterday, the Hereford Times reported that the ongoing surge in demand saw A&E able to take “serious health conditions” only.

Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT) has warned of the “extreme pressure” A&E is currently under from patients presenting with "emergencies" which could be treated more appropriately, and more quickly, at  minor injury units or even  pharmacies.

Recent weeks have seen a run on A&E that even the hospital’s new clinical assessment unit - opened at the end of last year - is struggling to slow.

WVT has already had put patient safety action plans in place and clinical teams are again having to postpone operations - at least over this week -  to meet urgent treatment demand.

Figures for December show A&E attendances increased with numerous spikes in emergency demand.  Over the month, A&E attendances averaged around 130 a day and ranged from 96 to 193.