People are being urged to only come into the Accident and Emergency department at Macclesfield Hospital if absolutely necessary.

The hospital's A&E services have become very busy in recent days. As a result, East Cheshire NHS Trust is reminding people that A&E should only be used for major, life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

Generally, you should visit A&E or call 999 for emergencies, such as:

• Loss of consciousness
• Acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
• Persistent, severe chest pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped

East Cheshire NHS Trust have released a video informing Macclesfield about 111 - non-emergency number.

The 22-second YouTube clip is presented by a Macclesfield nurse.

"Maybe a call to 111 would give you appropriate advice and prevent you from having a very long wait,

"Thereby letting us get on with looking after the sick patients that really need to be in here."

The 111 services are available 24 hours a day for medical advice.

You can view the 'Think 111 First' video above.

The Emergency Department (also known as A&E or casualty) offers access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It is located at Macclesfield District General Hospital, on Victoria Road.

You can learn more about Macclesfield's A&E current wait times and the department in general via this link.

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