EMERGENCY departments at hospitals across Oxfordshire experienced ‘significant pressure’ with patients facing ‘very long waits’ over the festive period.

The BOB Integrated Care Board, which plans and provides health and care services for people in Oxfordshire, issued the warning and asked people to only use A&E departments in an emergency, given the pressures and long waits expected.

This included emergency departments at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

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Rachael Corser, chief nursing officer at the BOB Integrated Care Board, said: "We want to keep as many frontline clinicians available to treat people who are ill and need help urgently. So please help us by ensuring you do whatever you can to reduce the pressure on our services.

"Our focus is on making sure patients are safe and that critical services keep running.

"All partners in the NHS, social care and our voluntary organisations are working together so people who need to come into hospital can be admitted safely, and people who are medically fit to leave can be discharged safely.

"We are monitoring this situation very closely and as always we remain committed to providing the best possible care for patients."

In a joint message to the staff at Oxford University Hospitals, the trust’s chief operating officer Sara Randall, chief nursing officer Sam Foster and deputy chief medical officer Dr Andrew Brent said: "We are working closely with our health and social care partners to enable as many safe discharges from our hospitals as possible, so that patients who are medically fit to leave hospital are able to do so.

"We would like to remind you all about the support for your wellbeing that is available to you.

"We know that this is a particularly stressful period, and there are resources available to support your physical and mental wellbeing.”

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Jacquie Pearce-Gervis, chairman of Oxford Patient Voice, said: “Most GP Surgeries were closed until Wednesday morning and pharmacies were also generally closed, some people felt that the only alternative was A&E.

“There really should be better arrangements during bank holidays. It is not fair on the A&E departments to have to cope with everything, many of whom have staff shortages due to illness.  

Patient Voice thanks them for working so hard and for coping as well as they did.” 

As ambulance delays and waiting lists have hit record levels in recent weeks, the NHS says demand for care means the public should use "use emergency services wisely" over the new year period.

Data from NHS England shows that January 1 was quieter for ambulance arrivals at Oxford University Hospitals this year – 108 patients arrived via ambulance, 7.9 per cent fewer than the average for the prior fortnight.

Those needing emergency transport to hospitals this year will have additional complications to contend with, with ambulance delays hitting their highest levels on record across England.

After calling off a strike due to take place on December 28 so people could ‘enjoy Christmas without any additional anxiety’, ambulance workers are due to strike again across England on January 11 and 23.

The strikes will take place around similar action from nurses, who will strike on January 18 and 19, having already walked out for two days in December.

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi