Oxford Mail readers have been sharing their views after patients were urged by hospital staff not to rush to their A&E departments unless it is an emergency.

The John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford has seen a sharp rise in attendance since lockdown measures eased.

The John Radcliffe, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, which provide accident and emergency care across the county, are struggling with rising numbers of patients.

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This comes as Oxfordshire recorded 8,388 Covid-19 cases in four weeks.

The number of hospitalisations due to the virus has also reached its highest levels in England for the past five months.

Prof Meghana Pandit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s chief medical officer, warned of the growing pressure on two of the trust’s hospitals.

In an appeal to the public, she said: “It is a very busy time for our hospitals at the moment.

“We would urge the public to help us to help you by choosing the right NHS service because our Emergency Departments at both the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury are experiencing high levels of demand."

LEE BUCKINGHAM: “Maybe GPs should start seeing their patients then.”

LAUREN MILES: “Risky statement. We should all feel free to go to A+E if we think we have an emergency. Someone’s emergency may not be the same as someone else’s. I’d hate for people to struggle as they’re being told to stay away. Doctors etc are pushed I get that, but to think of someone struggle when they ‘don’t want to put people out’ is not right.”

GLYN PLESTED: “Could it be because doctors are not physically seeing people then advise them to call health line who nearly always send you to A&E to cover themselves.

NADIA NOVAK: "I am not blaming the doctors or nurses. I blame the politicians for putting the doctors and nurses in this situation.”

CHARLEE EDGE: “It’s alright saying stay away from A&E but when you ring your doctors and they turn you away because they don’t have time for you then you have no other choice but to go to a&e!! I had to sit up there for nearly eight hours on my own the other week all because the doctors didn’t have time to see me.”

BECKY DAY: “Probably more people go there as you still can’t see a GP, let alone get through to them on the phone, waiting in a queue of 50 odd people just to get through to a receptionist.”

PETER GREANEY: “That’s not true. They are understaffed due to summer vacation.”

JAMES CARNEGIE: “Stay away from hospital ok sure reimburse me my national insurance contributions then as I ain’t paying for a service I can’t use.”

MICHELLE SLAYMAKER: “About time people start getting billed for time wasting.”

JENNIFER YERBURY: “Come on MP - bring this up in parliament. Open up your GP surgeries.

DANNI ELLIOTT: “Yet the doctors tell you to go to A&E for an ear infection because you have a temperature.”

DYLAN DRISCOLL: “General consensus to stay away from the emergency department unless it’s an emergency.”

ANNA ANTELL: “Shouldn’t have to even be said! It is for emergencies!”

KELLY TAYLOR: “Like the posters say “you wouldn’t call the coastguard when you fall in a puddle..”

"You will still get people who can’t help but attention seek and go to A&E for the slightest things. That will always remain a problem.”

ZOE WHITE: “And are they still looking at closing the Horton hospital even though the JR can’t cope?”

JANE HOWELL: “Oh here are the time wasters, moaning about if we can see a GP!

“The GPs are seeing people, but they are only seeing those that need to be seen. Not those that can see their pharmacist! Now is the time to either gone those that have no reason be go to A&E or privatise the NHS.”

KIERA O’MAHONY: “Jane Howell what privatise the NHS and have poor people who can’t afford treatment dying on the streets? Get yourself together will you.”

RICHARD PILL: “The Government is using algorithms and putting profit before people - ideological hang-ups means they can find billions for #HS2 and new roads but cuts £20 from Universal Credit."