RESIDENTS have been told to only come to the Alexandra Hospital if it is life threatening, as the hospital struggles to cope.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, is urging people to use the county's MIU instead.

Commenting on Facebook yesterday the trust said: "Both our Emergency Departments at Worcester and Redditch are currently experiencing very high volumes of patients - please only use our emergency departments if it’s life threatening, please use any of the other five minor injury units across the county, the waiting time is less than one hour, you will be seen much quicker. Thank you for your cooperation."

The units can treat a range of minor injuries including cuts and grazes, sprains, strains, fractures and minor burns.

Located in Bromsgrove, as well as Malvern, Evesham, Tenbury and Kidderminster, the county’s minor injury units are open every day, including the festive bank holidays.

MIU opening hours at the Princess of Wales in Bromsgrove are Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday to Sunday noon to 8pm.