After declaring a major incident likely to last until at least the end of today, services are still under severe pressure but the situation is improving for Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Following the services being stretched by huge demand since Christmas, the trust is still warning people to stay away from accident and emergency unless it is a real emergency.

A spokesman for the trust said this morning: “[It is] still a major incident but improving significantly.”

Yesterday the trust said: “Declaring a major incident (which we did at the weekend) allows us to mobilise additional staff and take a more targeted approach in how we manage outpatient clinics and planned operations and this is resulting in an improving situation [today January 6] within our hospitals.”

Other hospitals and trusts throughout the country have faced a crisis situation this week, with hospitals in north Yorkshire, Staffordshire and Gloucestershire struggling to cope with the demand.

Today, Addenbrookes in Cambridge, one of the largest hospitals in the UK, declared it was also facing a major incident.

Countrywide figures, released by the NHS yesterday showed A&E departments have failed to cope with the number of people, with the worst national performance for waiting times for 10 years.

Chief executive Suzanne Rankin yesterday praised colleagues in the hospital who have been working hard to meet this demand and spoke of an “improving situation which is good news”.

She said: “Our A&E department remains open and of course we will see and treat all patients who come to the department. Clearly while demand remains high patients who are not an emergency may have to wait a long time and may find they are seen more quickly elsewhere.”

While the situation is improving, the trust is keen to reinforce the importance of choosing the right service for healthcare, to alleviate the pressures currently felt at A&E.

In a statement online, it said: “We are currently under severe pressure - please don’t come to A&E unless you are a real emergency.”

Weybridge Community Hospital, Church Street, Weybridge, is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 7.30pm, and 9am to 4pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Ashford Hospital, London Road, is open 8am to 10pm, 365 days of the year.

Woking Hospital, Heathside Road, is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 7.30pm, and 9am to 7pm on weekends and bank holidays.

For more information on choosing the right service call 111, or for more information on local health services visit nhs.uk.