Nearly 50 per cent of beds in Buckinghamshire's hospitals are occupied by Covid-19 patients - so changes are being made to services so staff can "rise to the challenges" of the latest virus surge.

Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust says it is currently experiencing "huge challenges" and the number of Covid-19 positive patients needing treatment has increased "significantly" in recent weeks.

To cope with the increased demand, Bucks Healthcare Trust says it has to make a number of changes to services - including postponement of non-urgent operations and outpatient appointments.

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Outpatient adult community therapy services have been suspended, and the Community Assessment and Treatment Services (CATS) based at Marlow, Thame and Amersham Hospitals has been temporarily relocated to the medical day unit in Wycombe Hospital and is closed to new referrals.

In-person visiting has been suspended, except for compassionate visiting, but virtual visits via video and telephone calls can be arranged.

These are the latest updates on other services they are still providing:

• Urgent, planned operations. If you are sent an invite, make sure that you attend or let them know if you decide not to or are unable to.

• Emergency department (A&E) remains open to anyone who needs emergency and life-saving care. However, If you need care in a situation that is not life threatening, use the 111 First phone and online service, which has been expanded this year to direct you promptly to the most appropriate care available.

• Diagnostics - The Trust says it is "extremely important" that all patients continue to attend any diagnostic or screening appointments they receive. Infection prevention and control protocols are in place to ensure these services can continue safely and patients can attend with confidence. These services include:

• Breast screening – The service is "extremely keen" to ensure those called for screening attend appointments and reminds patients that early detection saves lives.

• Radiology (x-rays and CT scans) – a temporary CT scanning facility has been installed at Amersham Hospital in addition to those in the radiology departments at Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe Hospital.

• Endoscopy – it is important that patients invited for gastroenterology or endoscopy screening procedures attend their appointments. Full guidelines and information will be provided for patients along with their appointment letter.

• Blood tests – from February 1, all blood tests must be pre-booked online. This will reduce the need to wait at peak times. Details for the online booking service are available on the Trust website.

• Sexual health services remain open by appointment at both Wycombe Hospital and at the Brookside clinic in Aylesbury.

• Cancer and haematology treatment and support are unaffected, with the infection prevention and control protocols in place to protect vulnerable patients. Haematology inpatient ward has been temporarily relocated to the Shelburne Hospital where patients are still being looked after by Trust staff.

• Maternity services - Specific infection, prevention and control measures are in place. See the Trust's birth choices website for more information. Wycombe Birth Centre will remain closed for births during the pandemic however it continues to offer outpatient services.

• The Rapid Response and Intermediate Care Service is urgently responding to patients who are at high risk of hospital admission to enable them to remain at home.

• Cataract surgery – The Trust has a separate theatre to ensure they can safely continue to offer cataract operations so if you are offered an appointment, do attend.

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Dan Gibbs, chief operating officer for the Trust, said: “We have to make some very difficult decisions to ensure that we can continue to provide safe and compassionate care for those in most urgent need.

“We would like to apologise to anyone whose treatment has been delayed as a result of this. I fully appreciate just how disappointing and frustrating this is and we are doing everything in our power to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.

“Thank you for your continued support and understanding at this hugely challenge time. I want to reassure you that we are still here for you whenever you need us – and if you are offered an appointment would urge you to keep it - but we need your help at this really busy time to keep our hospitals for those that need them most and are seriously ill.

“If you are feeling unwell and are not sure which service you need, contact NHS111 for advice. They will make sure that you are seen by the right people, in the right place as quickly as possible whether that is your GP, the Urgent Treatment Centre or the Emergency Department (A&E). They can book you an appointment so that you won’t have to wait about unnecessarily.”