LANARKSHIRE residents are being urged not to go to A&E unless their condition is "urgent or life-threatening".

NHS Lanarkshire is asking residents to consider alternatives or expect long wait times due to pressure on three acute hospitals as the number of Covid patients across the region continues to rise. 

This has led to hospitals working beyond full capacity.

NHS Lanarkshire’s executive medical director, Dr Jane Burns, said: "There are a number of reasons for the current relentless pressures on Lanarkshire hospitals but primarily it is the number of patients requiring treatment both with and without Covid.

"Our three acute hospital sites are beyond full with capacity regularly over 100%. 

"This has been the case for a number of weeks and the situation is not easing, in fact, this week hospitals across Scotland including Lanarkshire have seen a record number of Covid patients.

"Unfortunately, this is resulting in many patients in our emergency departments waiting well in excess of our target of four hours for a condition that could have been treated by another healthcare service. 

"It is also putting pressure on how quickly we can admit patients who require emergency care."

READ MORE: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde under 'extreme pressure' as hospitals near capacity

Dr Burns says high staff absences due to Covid and self-isolation is also causing challenges across all health services and staff are struggling to cope. 

She added: "We also have wards closed across our sites due to Covid which again reduces beds available to patients and creates further additional pressures while we are trying to recover services and treat patients who need our care.

"The safety of our patients and staff is our top priority and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure safe and effective patient care and address the current pressures."

Dr Burns highlighted that while emergency departments are open 24 hours a day seven days a week for those who need them, there are other services available for patients to get treatment. 

She said: "If someone’s condition is not critical or life-threatening we want people to think ‘is an emergency department the right place for me to seek healthcare or is there an alternative where I can still be treated with the same level of care’.

"There answer is yes there are alternatives including our minor injuries units, a call to NHS 24 on 111 day or night who will direct people to the right NHS service which will result in people being seen and treated quicker.

"If it is not a critical emergency or life-threatening and people can wait they can also access their local GP or pharmacy or another community service when they open, and if someone is just looking for advice there is a raft of information and helpful guidance on the NHS Inform website."

READ MORE: Patients wait up to 10 hours in hospitals as NHS Lanarkshire at full capacity

She added: "Finally, if someone does have to come to one of our emergency departments, they need to be prepared to face long waits to be seen, in some instances several hours.

"This can lead to patients getting frustrated with our staff but we ask that people be patient and be kind and considerate to our staff.

"We are working extremely hard in very difficult circumstances to do the very best we can for each and every one of our patients."

Patients have been advised that anyone who attends NHS Lanarkshire's emergency departments may be redirected towards other services.