HOSPITALS have “very little bed space” and families are urged to help get patients home as extra pressure is expected as a result of the heatwave.

Poole Hospital is currently at 96.7 per cent capacity, while the Royal Bournemouth Hospital is at 98.4 per cent, ahead of a weekend which is expected to bring soaring temperatures.

The Met office extended its weather warning for extreme heat to Monday, and University Hospitals Dorset, responsible for the two hospitals, has encouraged people to only attend if absolutely necessary.

READ MORE: Heatwave: amber weather alert for BCP is extended

Libby Beesley, head of emergency preparedness, resilience and response, said: “Obviously both hospitals are extremely busy at the moment.

“We are coming in most days with very little bed space and very high occupancy.

“Our Covid patients have gone up slightly, coupled with that we have quite a few staff absences to do with Covid and problems with discharges and social care.

“There are long queues for our ambulance colleagues trying to get patients into hospital.”

Ms Beesley said increased heat always exacerbates problems like strokes, heart attacks and COPD.

She continued: “Come into hospital if you absolutely need to. Do use other avenues like phoning 111 and most important take care of yourself first.

“We are struggling with capacity, conciliary care and care home availability and rehabilitation availability.

“If you can help with interim care, offer to transport family home, that would help.

“Any care that family can give means patients can come out of hospital which is the last place they need once they have recovered.”

READ MORE: What Dorset’s weather experts are saying about heatwave

Ms Beesley said with people coming into the emergency department toppled the occupancy past 100 per cent.

She said the hospitals’ priority was keeping all staff and patients safe and had to work out the best place for an increase of Covid patients – just above 80 as of Tuesday.

She added: “Please stay safe, limit your exposure to the sun, make sure you are drinking plenty and keep children out the sun.

“Our staff are brilliant, we are working to make sure all stay safe, the NHS is its staff.

“We are well aware of the chaos that comes with the heat, we are working with our partners and our hospitals to manage it as best we can.”