Surgeries have been cancelled at the John Radcliffe Hospital through to the beginning of next week as NHS 'pressures' deepen.

Non-urgent adult operations were postponed on Monday and Tuesday this week due to an 'exceptionally busy' weekend.

But after returning to normal yesterday, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has taken the 'very difficult' decision to cancel operations through to and including Monday March 19.

Outpatient and diagnostic appointments, urgent and cancery surgery will go ahead as planned.

The trust urged people only to attend the emergency department in an emergency.

Director of clinical services, Paul Brennan, said: "The trust very much regrets that although we were able to go back to business as usual in our Trust yesterday, the Trust has today had to take the very difficult decision to once again postpone non urgent adult operations due to take place at the John Radcliffe Hospital on Thursday 15  March through to and including Monday 19 March.

"All patients affected will be contacted. This is not a decision we take lightly and I would like to apologise to patients directly affected.

"We know how disappointing this news will be to them.

"We will seek to rearrange operations as soon as we are able.

“Outpatient and diagnostic appointments, urgent and cancer surgery are unaffected.

"Please note the cancellations are restricted to the John Radcliffe Hospital and therefore do not apply to the Churchill Hospital or Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and day case activity can continue at the Horton General Hospital.

“As always, people should only attend a hospital Emergency Department in an emergency. If in doubt use the ‘Health and Care Oxfordshire’ app from Oxfordshire CCG to locate your nearest health provider.

“I would like to thank all staff who are working so hard to provide care for our patients under difficult circumstances at the moment.”