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

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.

Liverpool Royal Hospital has declared a critical incident amid high flu levels to "support the safe care and treatment of patients" as it works with support organisations

Multiple critical incidents have been declared across a number of UK hospitals as many services struggle under a perfect storm of cold weather, respiratory conditions, flu, Covid-19, and norovirus.

Hospital has brought in emergency measures to deal with 'exceptionally high demand' - this is how it will impact patients and staff

Patients have been waiting as long as 91 hours in A&E for treatment, as bosses at the NHS Royal Liverpool Hospital urged staff to discharge more patients in a 'full capacity' emergency

The Royal Liverpool Hospital has activated its 'full capacity protocol' as it takes emergency measures to deal with the soaring numbers coming into its emergency department. A notice has revealed some patients have waited as long as 91 hours in Accident and Emergency before being treated.

Multiple hospitals across the country have declared critical incidents after emergency departments were swamped by a surge in winter flu cases. As of Tuesday evening, NHS England confirmed at least a dozen hospitals had declared the health system’s highest alert level as the rise in respiratory cases led to “exceptionally high demands”.

Several hospitals and NHS trusts across England have declared critical incidents due to sustained pressure on their emergency departments