The NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board is asking people to call 111 in the event of a non-emergency
Laycie Beck Senior Reporter
12:36, 07 Jan 2026
Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, Sibsey Road(Image: Lincolnshire Live)
Health bosses are asking people to call 111 in a non-emergency with hospitals ‘extremely busy’ across the county.
The Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board said that patients were facing long waits across its hospitals, which includes those in Lincoln, Boston, Grantham, Louth, Gainsborough, Spalding and Skegness.
Raj Ranganathan, a consultant in the accident and emergency department at Pilgrim Hospital Boston, stated: “Our hospitals are extremely busy right now, many patients are waiting in emergency departments for long hours. If you do have a medical need right now, please think is the emergency department the right choice for me.
“If it is not a genuine emergency please contact NHS 11 either online or by phone, and then you will get the advice for the right choice of healthcare service for your particular need. So please remember, contact NHS 111 first.”
This update comes after the organisation initially shared a warning on Tuesday, January 6. It read: “Our hospitals are very busy with long waits in A&E. You should only be in A&E in a life-threatening emergency.
“If it’s not an emergency, please contact NHS 111 for advice and support, either by phone by dialling 111 or online.”