Whiston Hospital is the latest hospital on Merseyside to declare a critical incident, as the NHS continues to see huge demand on its A&E services. Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Arrowe Park Hospital have also declared critical incidents.

Another Merseyside hospital has declared a critical incident as the crisis in Accident and Emergency continues to grip the region. Today, Whiston Hospital became the latest to make the emergency announcement, joining the Royal Liverpool and Arrowe Park in Wirral who have all made such declarations this week.

Royal Liverpool Hospital declared a critical incident on Tuesday 7 January after a rise in patient admissions to wards with the flu and respiratory illnesses. | ITV News Granada