SICK people in Wiltshire are being urged to only visit hospital unless it’s absolutely essential, after it was announced two thirds of people visiting after Christmas were putting unnecessary pressure on services.

According to the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), only 33 per cent from more than 5,000 people who visited Salisbury District Hospital, Swindon Great Western Hospital or Bath Royal United Hospital between December 31 and January 8 actually required emergency treatment.

Dozens of non-emergency operations have been cancelled at hospitals across the country following the Christmas and New Year period, with many triggering their most serious status also known as OPEL 4.

Bath’s Royal United Hospital went to OPEL 4 earlier last week and cancelled a number of non-emergency operations. Since then it has reduced its status to OPEL 3, with more non-emergency surgery being cancelled.

People are  being advised to stay away from the hospital unless thye have a medical emergency.

A spokesman for Bath RUH said: “The Royal United Hospital in Bath is currently very busy, following the Christmas and New Year period.

“We are working closely with our healthcare partners to manage this high patient demand and to maintain the quality of services to patients.

“During this busy period we would ask people to attend A&E only if they are seriously unwell or seriously injured.

“Otherwise call NHS 111, a freephone service that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“It offers a one-stop number for patients with urgent, but not life-threatening, symptoms who want a fast and easy way to get help when they need it.

"Some elective non-emergency operations continue to be postponed. We apologise to those patients whose operations are delayed and will keep them informed about future appointment dates.

"We are taking this action for operational reasons to help manage high patient demand, and to maintain the quality of the services to patients at the RUH.”

The OPEL – or Operational Pressure Escalation Level system – was brought in last year in an attempt to ensure consistency at hospitals, with level four indicating that patient care and safety could be compromised.

Salisbury District Hospital haa also triggered its most serious status in recent days and Swindon’s Great Western Hospital has advised people to call 111 or visit a pharmacist, instead of going to hospital.

NHS Wiltshire is calling on potential patients to help services by taking personal responsibility for their healthcare, and only attend hospital if absolutely necessary.

Peter Jenkins, chairman of Wiltshire CCG said: “We need patients to take responsibility for making the right decision about where to go for healthcare advice.

“Every year the NHS makes the same plea to the public and every year we continue to see inappropriate A&E attendances rise.

“We prepare for increases in attendance over the winter, because we expect that to happen, however when patients are turning up to A&E when they don’t need to be there it adds significant pressure to an already challenging situation.”