Overstretched hospital advises patients to 'go elsewhere'

Casualties who turned up at the Royal Blackburn hospital on Bank Holiday Monday were advised to go to another hospital if they wanted to be seen quickly.

Patients were told to drive to Burnley in the early hours if they wanted to be seen more quickly after the Royal Blackburn Hospital’s urgent care centre became overwhelmed.

Dozens of patients, including children and elderly people, were waiting for treatment on Monday when staff at Blackburn said the urgent care centre at Burnley General Hospital was available and they should go there to reduce further waits.