Ambulance staff are “experiencing some delays” as they attempt to hand over emergency patients to doctors at Watford General Hospital.

A paramedic, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Borehamwood Times's sister paper the Watford Observer their colleagues were “waiting to offload” patients today and “wouldn’t be surprised" if they started diverting people to other hospitals.

The East of England Ambulance Service said in a statement: “We are experiencing some delays at Watford Hospital.

“But we are working closely with the hospital teams to make sure our ambulances are turned around as quickly as possible.”

West Herts Hospitals Trust confirmed Watford General had been “very busy” over the weekend which has continued into Monday.

Antony Tiernan, the trust's director of communications, said: “Our staff are looking after a significant number of very sick patients being brought in by ambulance and who need to be admitted to hospital.

“We would like to remind people that our A&E department is for people with serious injuries and illnesses, and to encourage those with minor conditions to use other services, for instance our urgent care centre at Hemel Hempstead Hospital and our minor injuries unit at St Albans Hospital.

"People can also call NHS 111 for advice or visit www.nhs.uk”

The Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group warned earlier this month that non-emergency patients could be turned away from A&E.

Almost 13,000 people visited the county’s under pressure emergency wards at Watford and Hemel Hempstead, as well as the minor injuries unit at St Albans City Hospital between December 1 and January 6.

Here is a selection of some of the ‘emergencies’ doctors dealt with in accident and emergency over the festive period:

• Patients who think they have flu and wanted prescriptions - directed to chemist for over the counter remedies.

• Several toothache patients - sent to their dentists.

• Several sore throats – sent to pharmacists.

• Several people seeking emergency contraception and pregnancy tests – sent to chemists/GP.

• Patient with a knee injury for three weeks who had not been to see GP - minor injury not needed to be seen in A&E.

• Patients coming in asking for X-rays for niggling pains who had not been to their GP first.