HOSPITALS in Worcestershire are struggling under "unprecedented" pressure in what has been a record-breaking week for hospitals across the country.

Figures released by NHS England showed last week had been the busiest on record for hospitals across the country.

Worcestershire is no exception, with the amount of people being taken to A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Redditch's Alexandra Hospital up 14 per cent on last year, and an increase in overall emergency admissions of nine per cent.

A spokesman from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust - the organisation running the two hospitals - said 419 patients had visited A&E at the Royal last weekend compared with 348 the previous weekend.

"This trend has continued throughout the week and we are preparing for another very busy weekend," she said.

"We would like to say a huge thank you to our staff – particularly in our emergency departments.

"The teamwork we have seen has been amazing and they continue to go the extra mile despite the constant pressures."

Last night, Friday, December 19 was expected to be the busiest night of the year for West Midlands Ambulance Service with tens of thousands of people across the region going out on the town to enjoy the last weekend before Christmas.

Across England 440,428 patients went to A&E last week and 111,062 were admitted to hospital.

This has had a knock-on effect to waiting times, with many patients forced to wait longer than the NHS-mandated four hours for treatment.

National director of commissioning operations for NHS England Dr Barbara Hakin said it was important people only went to hospital or called 999 in a genuine emergency.

"As we come into the holiday period, it is important people continue to look after themselves and nip problems in the bud," she said.

"They should ensure they have proper medication, get their flu jab if they have not done so, and get advice from their pharmacist."

With both A&E departments in the Worcestershire facing significant strain throughout the entirety of this year a number of measures have been set up in a bid to ensure patients are seen, treated and discharged more quickly including an Urgent Care Centre at the Royal.

Health bosses in Worcestershire have also repeatedly asked people in the county only to go to A&E in a genuine emergency, with a range of other services available

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust runs Minor Injury Units in Kidderminster and Tenbury - both of which are open 24 hours a day - as well as Malvern, Evesham and Bromsgrove. The units are able to deal with injuries such as broken bones, cuts, wounds and grazes and waiting times are often much shorter than at A&E. Live waiting times for all five units as well as the Royal and the Alex can be seen at www.hacw.nhs.uk.

Health advice is also available from pharmacies, GPs and NHS 111.

For more information on health services in Worcestershire visit www.isaandeforme.com.