People are being asked to only use the Royal Cornwall Hospital’s emergency department in cases of “genuine emergency” as it fights to cope with an increase in demand on beds and services.

Today Kathy Byrne, chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, appealed for the public’s help in help alleviated the “extreme pressure” all of Cornwall’s hospitals have found themselves under since the snow earlier this month.

She said: “Because of the added strain on all care services, there are additional difficulties discharging people from a hospital bed.

“We are asking our local community to only use the emergency department in a genuine emergency to avoid overcrowding.

“We are asking relatives and friends to help us by collecting and supporting patients immediately when they are ready to leave hospital.”

She also warned that patient choice on where they would be cared for has had to be suspended.

This means patients who are medically well enough to go to another care placement must take the first bed available in Cornwall, so that the hospital can make space to accommodate more urgent patients.

Ms Byrne added: “If you can help us today by using an alternative service or ensuring a relative or friend gets home quickly then we would be extremely grateful and you would help us focus our resources on those most in need of urgent medical treatment.

“Many thanks for your support and understanding.”

Alternatives to the emergency department include pharmacies, GPs, minor injury units, the Urgent Care Centre in Penzance which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as the NHS 111 phone number for out-of-hours advice.

On Thursday the trust set up an Incident Control Command Centre – “Gold Command” – to make sure that health and care could still be safely provided throughout Cornwall.