ROYAL Bolton Hospital has issued an urgent message about the need to wear face masks and attend the hospital alone as it experiences a high number of patients in it’s A&E department.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust stressed it would be keeping Covid-restrictions in place, despite today’s ‘freedom day’, to keep everyone on site safe.

And now hospital bosses have issued an urgent message after a number of people attended with relatives and to wear face coverings.

Both measures are designed to keep the hospital Covid-secure.

Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Andy Ennis said “This is not the time for us to become complacent and if anything, it’s more important than ever for us to keep up with the measures that are in place to keep everyone safe, because people will naturally be having more contact with others post July 19th.

“This includes wearing a facemask at all times on site unless exempt. Our waiting rooms are designed to keep you safe, and we cannot do this if people accompany their relatives and friends to our emergency department. We continue to ask that you attend on your own, and to consider if this is the best place to receive care before attending.”

The hospital is experiencing high demand in it’s A&E department and is asking people to attend only if they have to and those who are unsure to ring 111 for advice.

The trust said that infection rates are still high in Bolton and the number of people being seen in hospital is on the rise too.

The hospital warned that the exponential growth in the number of Covid infections over the coming weeks threatens to overwhelm the NHS unless a hard line is taken and the necessary precautions are taken.