A hospital trust is asking people to use other methods of care if their condition is not life-threatening as they experience a ‘high demand’.

East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, which operates the Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital and Accrington Victoria Hospital, has said that people are experiencing long waits for less serious conditions in A and E and Urgent Care due to high demand.

Patients are therefore being asked to seek alternative methods of care than A and E, such as NHS 11, a local pharmacy or the Accrington Minor Injuries unit.

Those with serious or life-threatening conditions should continue to use emergency services.

The trust has said it will ‘treat everyone in order of medical urgency’, asking those experiencing longer waits to be patient.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “"We are currently experiencing a high demand for Emergency and Urgent Care services meaning long waits for less serious conditions.

“If your condition is not life-threatening, please consider contact NHS 111 in the first instance or the other methods of care that on hand, such as your local pharmacy or Accrington Minor Injuries unit if appropriate.”