HEALTH services in Bolton are being swamped with patients, many of them experiencing flulike symptoms which do not need to treated by medical staff.

Residents are now being urged to think carefully before going to the accident and emergency department at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Services across the town have reported being “very busy” over the weekend and into yesterday.

Royal Bolton Hospital’s casualty department saw 150 people yesterday morning, compared to the usual 50.

The Lever Chambers walk-in centre saw double the number of patients over the weekend and one GP surgery reported three times the normal number of calls to the out-of-hours service over the weekend.

Calls to the practice quadrupled yesterday morning.

Large numbers of people have been complaining of flu and health chiefs are issuing advice.

Andrew Cogan, director of operations at the Royal Bolton, said: “We are very busy and while we do have patients who are seriously ill or have been involved in an accident, we have also seen a large number arrive who don’t need to come to us.

“For the vast majority of normally healthy adults, flu-like symptom, while unpleasant, do not need hospital care.

“A well-stocked medicine cabinet can deal with most minor ailments and injuries. If people need further advice they should call NHS Direct, go to their chemist, walk-in centre, minor injuries unit or speak to their GP or out of hours GP service rather than going to A&E.”

Health workers across Bolton are working together during the surge in demand.

The hospital has opened an additional temporary assessment area and community and social services staff are trying to ensure patients are in the right place.

Non-urgent operations have been postponed until tomorrow at the earliest, affecting about 40 patients.

Health bosses are urging eligible people to have the flu jab, and are asking everyone to practise good hand hygiene.

Anyone with flu and stomach bugs should not visit people in hospital.