Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs East Surrey Hospital has declared a critical incident.

The critical incidents are a result of a rise in complex attendances to A&E departments and ongoing challenges in discharging patients.

This has been made worse with the increase in flu and norovirus cases, a rise in staff sickness and recent cold weather also impacting more frail patients needing to be admitted.

As a result non-urgent appointments may need to be rescheduled. Cancer and other urgent operations will continued to be prioritised.