LIVE: Greater Manchester hospitals issue A&E warning with waits 'up to 11 HOURS' - updates

People across Greater Manchester are being urged to think twice about attending A&E as waiting times in some areas top 11 hours.

The warnings come as junior doctors embark on six days of strike action. The industrial action, from 7am on Wednesday January 3 to 7am on Tuesday January 9, comes at one of the busiest times of the year for the NHS as it grapples with increased pressure from winter viruses and a rise in people coming forward who delayed seeking help over the holidays.

The NHS has warned that the strike, which could see up to half of the medical workforce in England walk out, could lead to “the most difficult start to the year the NHS has ever faced”.

Try MEN Premium now with our amazing New Year offer... just click here to give it a go.

Today trusts across Greater Manchester urged people to think twice before attending Accident and Emergency departments.

Greater Manchester Police even issued a message on behalf of the NHS in Greater Manchester, posting on X (formerly Twitter): "Our hospital system is extremely challenged today with a few Trusts at OPEL4 level. Attendances have increased, ambulance handover times, numbers of patients waiting to be discharged etc and this is further impacted by this weeks strikes."

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said waiting times at its emergency department was up to eleven hours.

Follow live updates of this story below

The NHS operates a tier system to describe how it is handling the pressures it is facing, with Opel1 the lowest right up to Opel4 which is the highest.

NHS guidance describes Opel4 as: "Pressure in the local health and social care system continues to escalate leaving organisations unable to deliver comprehensive care. There is increased potential for patient