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The Accident and Emergency Department at Hillingdon Hospital is currently under extreme pressure and some patients are experiencing very long waits for assessment and treatment.

Sarah Burton, chief nurse, said: “Patient safety is always our priority. Like many hospitals across the country, we are experiencing high numbers of patients in our Emergency Department.

“Currently extreme pressure is impacting on our ability to admit patients in a timely way which means that ambulances are currently waiting to discharge patients and we are not able to see people as quickly as we would like. 

"We would like to offer our sincere apologies to everyone who is waiting for treatment. We always aim to see and treat patients as quickly as possible.

"All patients arriving at our Emergency Department are assessed with the most clinically urgent being prioritised. 

"This does mean that anyone presenting with less urgent needs is likely to face a very long wait for treatment. We are asking everyone to think carefully about which service is right for their needs."

The public can also help the NHS in the following ways:

• Only call 999 in the event of a serious or life-threatening emergency
• Visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you need urgent medical help and are not sure what to do. You can also ring 111 to get straight through to mental health advice.
• Be ready to collect your family or loved ones from hospital as soon as they are medically well enough to leave. Hospital is not the best place to be once someone is ready for discharge.
• Do not come to the Emergency Department with minor injuries, as you will be signposted elsewhere.
• Use your local pharmacy if you can – they can help with a range of minor health issues including colds, skin problems and earaches. Every area has a late opening pharmacy and most have consulting rooms where you can ask for advice in private. Go to the NHS website to find your nearest open pharmacist.
• Contact your GP practice or visit their website to get help. GP practices can arrange for you to speak to or see a GP or another healthcare professional. If you need help outside of normal hours, check your practice website for extended or enhanced access.

See more advice about which service is most appropriate for your needs

Sarah Burton added: "We are working together with local health and care partners to ensure that people who need hospital care can be admitted and then supported to return home safely as soon as they are medically well enough to leave hospital.

“Family and friends of patients can also help by being ready to collect their loved one from hospital when we call, and supporting them when they get home.”