The emergency department at a Bolton hospital is currently extremely busy. 

Patients are currently having to wait for over six hours to see a doctor at Royal Bolton Hospital's A&E. 

The department deals with life-threatening emergencies such as:

Severe chest pains

Difficulty breathing

Bleeding you can’t stop

Possible broken bones

Loss of consciousness

Stroke symptoms

Severe tummy pain or headache

A child who is very unwell

The Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is advising those with 'minor conditions' to consider using the GP out of hours service, or to phone BARDOC. 

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A spokesperson for the trust said: "Our Emergency Department is really busy this afternoon, with a waits of six hours to be seen by a doctor.

"We'll always prioritise those who need our help most. You can help us by only attending in a life or limb-threatening emergency.

"For minor conditions, please consider visiting your local pharmacist, GP, or use 111.nhs.uk for advice.

"If you need medical help outside of normal working hours you can use the GP out of hours service by contacting your GP surgery and following the instructions." 

He added: "You can also phone BARDOC directly on 0161 763 8940."