Airedale Hospital has put out a plea to accident and emergency patients to be patient as the hospital struggles to cope with the flu virus

The hospital has doubled its intake of patients compared to an average January.

Many patients are suffering from the after-effects of the flu virus - pneumonia in particular - and non-elective operations are having to be cancelled as a result of the pressure on beds and staff.

Dr Paul Godwin, Medical Director of the hospital said: "The recent increase in patient numbers has meant that there is no spare capacity at the moment.

"I would ask people to bear with us and show some tolerance if they face a long wait in casualty.

"The virus is also having an effect on staff numbers and this together with the fact that we are very busy is having an impact. But we are coping," he said.

Gary Choo, of the Broomhill Pharmacy in Ashbourne Grove, said he did not believe that the worst of the epidemic was over.

"We were jam-packed with people suffering from flu symptoms over the New Year period and things still haven't levelled off. I think it will be another week before we see any light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

Dr Stuart Gabbitas, senior partner at the Farfield Group Practice in West Lane confirmed that he was seeing many more patients than normal - a twenty per cent increase - and that the majority of these were complaining of flu symptoms.

He added: "This year, I think we are seeing a more virulent and longer-lasting virus than normal. I have some patients who are still feeling ill after two or three weeks."

But GPs at the Ling House surgery in Skipton Road were not reporting an unusual level of flu cases.

Dr Neil Smith said: "It may be that our patients are following the advice publicised by the government to stay at home, drink plenty of fluids, and take paracetamol when they have cold or flu symptoms," he said.

"We also run a flu vaccination programme which covers the vulnerable groups covered by our practice - the elderly, and those with chronic conditions - which may explain why we are no busier than normal for this time of the year."

A spokesman for NHS Direct, the recently-established telephone advice service, said that calls had been running at three times their normal level during the epidemic.

The service, based in Wakefield, which provides advice on all medical matters, is manned by trained staff. Anyone needing advice on flu, or any other medical problem, can call them on 0845 4647.

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