Brits told NOT to go to A&E as major hospitals riddled with highly-contagious vomiting and diarrhoea bug

: “We’ve got infection in the hospital with things like gastroenteritis, which is closing down some of our bed capacity... and causing problems with flow of patients through the system - back into their own homes.”

Three wards continue to be affected with a "significant number of beds out of action" and the infection control team on stand-by for the all-clear.

The hospital usually faces additional pressure during the winter months, according to the clinical director.

Critical incidents usually only last a few of days, with the situation being reviewed on an hourly basis.

The hospital trust in Staffordshire has declared a critical incident five times already this year.

These were announced between January 30 and July 9.

At the time, hospital chiefs urged those people who need care to come forward in the usual way by using 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies.

They suggested 111 for ";everything else";.