Advice for patients as Royal London and Mile End hospitals face winter pressures

The trust which runs the Royal London and Mile End hospitals has said it will try to carry out as many planned appointments as possible despite facing winter pressures.

All cancer operations and time-critical procedures at all of Barts Health NHS Trust’s hospitals will go ahead as planned.

The National Emergency Pressures Panel met on January 2 to activate the new NHS’s Winter Pressures Protocol which includes deferring non-urgent operations.

A spokeswoman for Barts Health said: “We will make every effort to make sure as many planned procedures and appointments as possible take place during this busy period.

“Patients with any appointments or planned operations should attend our hospitals as normal unless they are contacted by us.”

The trust has also urged people to use its services responsibly by visiting pharmacies for minor ailments and calling the free NHS 111 service for urgent advice.