Embattled hospital staff are urging people not to attend local A&E departments unless in a clear emergency as high demand continues to stretch the NHS.

Those suffering with minor injuries and ailments were last week told to take alternative measures as hospital staff fight through a crushing backlog of patients.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has doubled down on the request this week, with staff urging those without true emergency need to seek care elsewhere as the situation develops.

NHS services across the UK have struggled to cope following an unusually busy New Year weekend and higher demand for medical and surgical emergencies.

Staff have warned that waits for treatment will be much longer, with priority saved for the sickest of patients.

“Our hospitals remain under a great deal of pressure and we have opened extra capacity across the health board, in accordance with our winter plans, to help manage the recent increase in demand for services,” said a spokesman.

“Our advice to local people remains the same – if you attend one of our emergency departments (A&E) with an illness or injury which would be better treated elsewhere, you are likely to face longer waits because our staff need to prioritise the care of very sick patients.”

Nevill Hall Hospital remains ‘very busy’ with staff thanking the new £3.4m emergency department at Royal Gwent for easing the burden.

“Our new minor injuries unit at the Royal Gwent Hospital has helped us to manage the volume of patients in state-of-the-art facilities,” said the spokesman.

Admissions rose last week to 804, a slight increase from January 2016 figures, yet patients arriving by ambulance jumped to 261 from 242 the year before.

Those seeking non-emergency medical care are asked to contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 or visit minor injury units at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, Ystrad Mynach, or Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, Ebbw Vale where waiting times will be much shorter.

Information on the Choose Well campaign can be found at wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/866/choosewell