WIRRAL health chiefs have thanked the community for their patience in what has been a stressful and busy time for the borough’s hospitals.

In recent weeks, the frontline pressures being faced by accident emergency departments up and down the country has been highlighted, and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – which runs Arrowe Park Hospital – has been no different.

In a statement, the Trust said: “We are Wirral’s only emergency department, yet one of the busiest in the Northwest region.

“We regularly treat in excess of 250 A&E patients each and every day, many of whom have complex underlying healthcare problems requiring additional staff resources, specialist hospital services and clinical time.

“We are also seeing a greater number of patients arriving at Arrowe Park Hospital by ambulance. But what is becoming more apparent about these emergency ambulance arrivals to A&E is that these patients are older, sicker and frailer.”

Hospital bosses assured that all patients attending the emergency department – whether by ambulance or by foot – would be clinically triaged and assessed.

They said priority will always be given to those who are most unwell and appropriate decisions made to either admit them into hospital or discharge to home safely.

The spokesman added: “Our staff continue to work extremely hard to provide patients with the best possible care and it’s with regret that some patients are currently experiencing a longer wait than we would normally strive to achieve.

“During these times of unprecedented demand it’s important we take a step back to recognise the care, compassion and commitment our staff are giving, not just in our emergency department but throughout our Wirral hospitals.”

Hospital chiefs said that while the Wirral hospital is seeing a greater number of sicker patients with additional needs, it is more important than ever that the public follows the advice of the NHS Choose Well campaign.

“We are asking the people of Wirral to stop and think before coming to our emergency department by considering other options for healthcare such as GP out of hours services, pharmacies and NHS Walk‐in Centres where appropriate.”

If you are unsure, and it isn’t an emergency, please contact NHS 111 by calling 111 on your phone or visit the nhs.uk website.

Information about Wirral alternatives to A&E can also be found via wuth.nhs.uk