Patients are being urged to visit A&E at Medway Maritime Hospital only in “real emergencies” after some were left waiting for seven hours on Tuesday.

Lengthy queues built up after a sudden influx of patients, many of them elderly.

Andy Horne, the hospital’s chief executive, said the situation was “as difficult as we have had for many years.”

He also suggested the colder temperatures may be the reason why so many elderly people had been arriving at A&E.

The Met Office said last

week that December’s temperatures had been the coldest

start to winter for 30 years.

Mr Horne, speaking on Tuesday, said: “We want to apologise to patients at this difficult time when large numbers of very poorly people are coming in requiring admissions.

“That is our challenge, we are working closely with the hospital teams and the A&E.

“The advice is clear – if it’s an emergency come in, if not, please try to find alternatives.”

Patients are being advised to call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 if they are unsure about a problem or if they have suffered a minor illness or injury.

Mr Horne said emergencies were being dealt with instantaneously but added: “We are seeing minor injuries in two-and-a half hours and with the intermediates it is more like seven hours.

“This is not normal. This situation is as difficult as we have had for many years.”

So far, large-scale problems like last year’s outbreak of norovirus, or winter vomiting disease, have not been repeated.

Mr Horne said: “We have had cases of Norovirus in the hospital but the ward affected has now been cleared of the virus.”

On Wednesday morning waiting times in the hospital’s A&E department were cut to one hour.

Were you affected by the A&E delays? Call our newsdesk on 01634 227847 or email:medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk