Portsmouth's QA Hospital asks people to stay away from A&E
The hospital is experiencing "high levels of demand" amid a rise in Covid infections
Last updated 2nd Jul 2022
The south's hospitals are feeling the pressure as Covid infections in the UK jump by more than half a million in a week.
Figures show hospital numbers are continuing to increase with early signs of a rise in intensive care admissions among older age groups.
Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth is asking people to only use its emergency department for life threatening emergencies this weekend.
The department is said to be experiencing "high levels of demand".
John Knighton, medical director at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, said: "We are seeing an increase in patients with Covid at Queen Alexandra Hospital and also staff sickness.
"Our priority is to provide the safest care possible, and we can only do this by ensuring only the sickest and most urgent cases come to our emergency department.
"We are asking our community to only come to hospital if it is an emergency such as serious blood loss, suspected stroke or heart attack, or loss of consciousness.
"Patients who do not need to be seen in the emergency department should go to their local urgent treatment centres or call 111 for advice. Please help us and know where to go for treatment this weekend."
Urgent treatment centres:
- St Mary’s Urgent Treatment Centre (PO3 6DW) 8am - 8pm
- Gosport Urgent Treatment Centre (PO12 3PW) 8am -10pm
- Petersfield Urgent Treatment Centre (GU32 3LB) 8am – 8pm
Hospital bosses are urging people to consider a pharmacy, GP, or visiting the urgent treatment centre unless it is urgent or a life-threatening emergency.
People are being asked to stay away from hospital if they have symptoms, or are a contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.