Hospitals are struggling under pressure as general beds fill up with Covid-19 patients - leaving people waiting hours longer than they should for emergency help in A&E.
The number of Covid patients hospitalised in general beds has increased by more than a third in just three weeks. And as infection rates remain high, patients are 'staying in hospital for longer', according to the region's health bosses. READ MORE:Degrading A&E visits left a frightened Gran soaked in urine TWICE after she spent '24 hours abandoned on a trolley' The high volume of Covid patients in general beds has had a knock-on effect on the amount of time people spend in A&E, say hospital chiefs.