However, the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust insists it is returning to safer ground as concerns over national NHS pressures continue.

The latest figures released by NHS England have shown how bed capacity at the hospital reached just over 98 per cent for two consecutive days on February 7 and 8, with the majority of the 599 beds available taken up.

It has steadily dropped since then to 89 per cent capacity on the last released date of February 12.

On average during this period around 600 general and acute care beds have been available for patients in Bolton.

According to the British Medical Association (BMA) if average bed occupancy goes up above about 85 per cent there can be a rise in the risk of cross infection between patients, and it is less likely that an appropriate bed will be available for patients as they come in.

While there is no official figures for current occupancy levels at Bolton, the trust believes the downward trend will continue.

A spokesperson said: “In line with many other trusts in the country, there have been occasions over the winter period where we have been at high capacity. Over the last fortnight we have seen the pressure at the hospital ease, and as such our capacity levels are much nearer the recommended limits. That said, we still remain busy, and would still ask people to carefully consider if they need to attend A&E.”

BMA has blamed a shortage of beds and lack of social care on the high occupancy rates seen in hospitals throughout England this winter. Council chairman Dr Mark Porter said: “High bed occupancy is a symptom of wider pressure and demand on an overstretched and underfunded system. It causes delays in admissions, operations being cancelled and patients being unfairly and sometimes repeatedly let down. The delays that vulnerable patients are facing, particularly those with mental health issues, have almost become the norm and this is unacceptable.”