Darent Valley Hospital has urged patients to stay away from the A&E department due to "unprecedented demand".

The department usually receives around 350 patients, but a statement released today said it expects around 390 attendances.

110 patients had already visited the department when the hospital took to social media to offer advice to people thinking of attending.

A statement said: "If you or your family members have a condition that is not a serious emergency, please do NOT attend A&E. If you choose to attend and do not have a serious or life threatening condition please be prepared for a very long wait to be seen."

Last month, the Government faced pressure to plug multi-million funding deficit for health services in Dartford as the council pass motion to lobby.

Advice issued to people by the hospital included using your GP or the out of hours GP service, phoning 111, downloading the NHS Health Help Now app or visiting your local pharmacist.

There are also walk-in Centres staffed by health professionals that will see you without an appointment if you have an urgent concern.

The closest centre to Darent Valley is the Gravesend GP Walk-in Centre, Whitehorse Surgery NHS, Vale Road, Northfleet.

Trained nurses at minor injury units can assess and treat cuts, sprains, minor burns, minor dislocations of the fingers and toes, minor eye injuries and remove foreign bodies from, for example, ears and noses.

The closest to Darent Valley is Gravesham Community Hospital is open from 8am until 8pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Another alternative is urgent care centres that treat conditions such as minors cuts, bites, stings, burns, injuries, sprains, infections, minor eye injuries, fractures, minor chest, neck and back injuries and pain.

There is an urgent care centre at Queen Mary's Hospital, Frognal Avenue, Sidcup, which is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

There are also UCC's at Erith & District Hospital, Hind Crescent. Open Monday to Sunday 8.00am to 10.00pm and one in Woolwich at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Stadium Road.