Patients are being urged to avoid a busy hospital's accident and emergency department - unless they are seriously ill or have a life-threatening injury.

East Kent Hospitals is urging people to go elsewhere, and to particularly avoid the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

The department is, they say: "currently extremely busy, caring for large numbers of people who are seriously ill."

They added: "We are appealing to people who don’t have a serious or life-threatening illness or injury to avoid going to A&E and to seek care elsewhere."

Director of Operations for the Trust, Jane Ely, said: “We have seen a sudden surge in attendance at the QEQM Hospital in the past 24 hours and are asking members of the public to consider if they may be able to seek appropriate help from their pharmacist, GP or a minor injuries unit.

"This will help us to provide the specialist care seriously ill patients need in our Emergency Departments.”

If patients have a health problem and are not sure what to do, they are asking people to use the Health Help Now web app, which lists services and gives health advice and information for east Kent: www.healthhelpnow-nhs.net

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If you need medical help fast but it is not a 999 emergency, ring NHS 111.

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