NHS Forth Valley pleas for public to stay away from ‘very busy’ hospital

People should not visit a hospital in Forth Valley unless they need emergency care, a plea from the local health board has urged.

NHS Forth Valley asked the public to “please help” the situation at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, which it described as “currently very busy”, in a statement on social media.

It told people to only attend the facility’s Emergency Department “if you require emergency care.”

“If you need advice for a minor injury or urgent health problem which isn't life threatening you should call NHS 24 on 111, day or night, for advice,” it added.

NHS Forth Valley asked the public to “please help” the situation at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, which it described as “currently very busy”, in a statement on social media.

The announcement comes after Scotland recorded its highest ever number of new coronavirus cases on Wednesday; 2,045.

Addressing MSPs, the First Minister said a new, more infectious strain of Covid-19 - responsible for thousands of cases in southeast England - was “fast becoming dominant” in Scotland, but said hospitalisations were not yet at the levels seen at the height of the outbreak in the summer.

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