HEREFORD County Hospital has again declared an "internal incident" as it struggles to cope with patient numbers.

It is the second time since January that Wye Valley NHS Trust has had to make the internal incident call.

The latest surge in patient numbers has been complicated by a norovirus outbreak closing inpatient wards.

This morning (Mon), the confirmed admission numbers as up by 16 per cent on this time last year.

Amongst those numbers are said to be a significant percentage of "seriously ill" patients unsuitable for quick discharge.

Many others are older with "complex needs".

The internal incident  was called after particular pressure on A&E over the weekend with staff already struggling to meet assessment and treatment targets.

Again, a plea has gone out from the trust for patients to use NHS 111, the Hereford GP walk in centre, or their local GP or pharmacy as a first option ahead of A&E.

“At this moment in time, A&E is only for people who are seriously ill and need urgent care and treatment,” said trust chief executive Richard Beeken.

The trust is also having to postpone some routine operations.

This morning, the trust began contacting patients whose routine operations are being postponed as a result of the surge.

The trust has the power to declare an internal incident if it feels pressures in A&E present a serious threat to its services.

Work with  the West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and Herefordshire Council, to manage the situation.