Patients are being advised to go elsewhere as waiting times at Worcester's main hospital soar.

Waiting times of more than 12 hours were reported at Worcestershire Royal's accident and emergency department on Thursday morning.

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, says they are doing what they can to address the issue but has urged people to make use of minor injuries units.

He said: "Members of the public can help us reduce delays by only using the Emergency Department for the most serious illness and injuries, and to use the NHS 111 online service to get advice.

"Where people do need urgent care, they are encouraged to choose wisely from all the services which are available, including their local pharmacy, GPs, and Minor Injuries Units (MIUs). 

"MIU's can treat a variety of injuries including; wounds, sprains, strains and minor burns with much shorter waiting times."

There are MIU's in Bromsgrove, Malvern, Evesham, and Kidderminster.

By 11am on Thursday, April 7, waiting times at Worcestershire Royal had dropped to around eight and a half hours.

However, at the same time waiting times at all of the county's MIU's were under half an hour, with several having no waiting time at all.