by Sam Lennon

Ashford's William Harvey Hospital is running all services despite staff problems caused by the snow.

A spokesman for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said today: "The Hospital has some staffing problems, which is causing some delays, however all services are running.

"Staff have been offered help getting to the hospitals and accommodation is being provide on site as far as possible for those who need it.

"So far, the majority of staff have made it to work."

The trust said that workers living close by have also offered spare rooms to colleagues who need them.

The trust is urging outpatients who cannot keep appointments because of the snow to ring the department to warn of this.

Health chiefs are also warning people to use the health services responsibly as the bad weather puts a strain on the NHS.

From January 1 to 5 the Harvey's accident and emergency department saw 935 people and the figure swells to almost 2,500 with East Kent other two main hospitals in Canterbury and Margate.

Some minor injury units in Kent have seen up to a 40 per cent rise in the number of attendances since the snowfall.

South East Coast Ambulance Service has declared the big freeze a major incident and is prioritising life-threatening calls above all others.

Andrew Scott-Clark, deputy director of public health for NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent, said: "I would encourage people to consider accessing other health services such as their GP, local walk-in centre or NHS Direct rather than calling 999 or arriving at A&E.

"Accident and emergency should be saved for critical or life-threatening situations.

"People can't help when they fall ill or when they need emergency care.

"But people who inappropriately use the ambulance services and A&E departments for non-emergencies are diverting resources away from those who may be in destperate need of care and urgent attention."

Mr Scott-Clark also warned people to take extra care to protect themselves during the cold snap.

He said: "Cold weather is especially dangerous for older people or those with serious illnesses.

"Those with heart and respiratory problems are more likely to experience worsening symptoms during a cold spell, and for several days after temperatures have returned to normal."

The primary care trust's advice for keeping warm and healthy includes:

Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day. Eating regularly helps to keep energy levels during the winter.

Keep as active as possible.

Apart from using draught excluders keep your curtains drawn at home.

Set the thermostat at 21C (70F) and the timer to come on before you get up.

Set your heating to come on earlier rather than turning the thermostat up.