WATCH: Scarborough Hospital consultant Ed Smith urges people to follow Covid rules

Ed Smith, a consultant in emergency medicine at Scarborough Hospital, says they are already very busy and do not want the hospital to be overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

“The hospital remains very busy this winter with patients of all varieties but particularly Covid-19 and we’re very keen for people to continue to follow the Government’s advice regarding maintaining safe distances and reducing the risk of passing on or acquiring a Covid-19 infection because we don’t want the hospital to be overwhelmed with patients who are affected,” he said.

“This is also important because every Covid-19 patient that comes into the hospital takes up space and prevents us from doing our other really, really important healthcare work so please follow the Government guidelines - hands, face and space - and keep safe.”

On Friday afternoon, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - which runs Scarborough Hospital - took to social media to plead with people to avoid coming to A and E.

It posted: “Our hospitals are very busy today. Please avoid coming to A and E unless you have a medical emergency.”