Lincolnshire hospitals fear demand may not have yet peaked
It's feared next week could see even more patients going to A and E
Lincolnshire hospitals are bracing themselves for even higher demand as they continue to struggle with the number of patients needing treatment.
The current situation isn't as bad as some areas which have declared critical incidents but there are said to still be very long waits at A and E.
Infections like flu often peak elsewhere before moving on to Lincolnshire and that's causing concerns.
It's thought demand will peak sometime next week.
We're expecting our flu peak in the next 7 to ten days
We've been speaking to Rebecca Neno, the Winter Director for Lincolnshire.
She told us:
"Infectious diseases kind of naturally have a wave across the UK."
"They tend to start in the west and come over to the east."
"The majority of the country is expecting their flu peak this week - were expecting ours in another 7 to ten days."
"It is difficult in the NHS every year."
The other thing we've got at play is the weather - it affects people's health and well being
"We have a plan where we try to increase the amount of staff we have and increase our capacity through various different ways of working."
"We know the period between Christmas and New Year and this week particularly are always really busy weeks because people don't access services in the normal way and of course the other thing we've got at play is the weather - it affects people's health and well being."
"If you're critically unwell then please don't hesitate to dial 999 - that is a lifesaving service."
"If you're not critically unwell then please don't call it as you will be preventing people who desperately need 999 to access care."