Hospital bosses and health chiefs in Brighton and Hove are urging people to stay from A&E unless it’s a real emergency.
One hospital insider said: “We’ve been really busy for the last couple of weeks – not helped by the return of norovirus.”
And although the worst of the winter vomiting bug appears to have passed and no wards were closed at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, he added: “That could change at any moment.”
Rob Haigh, the medical director at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Sussex, said: “We are seeing more patients visiting our A&E departments.
“We are working hard to treat, admit or discharge patients as quickly as possible and know that, for less urgent cases, this can sometimes involve a lengthy wait.
“We would ask people to only come into our A&E department in a genuine emergency.”
Dr Haigh added: “For other problems, talk to your pharmacist, call your GP, dial 111 or visit the NHS walk-in centre at Brighton station.
“This will make a real difference for those patients who really need emergency treatment.”
