Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has cancelled all non-urgent elective adult inpatient surgeries until the end of the month, in line with national recommendations.

The Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust took the decision on Thursday due to winter pressures aggravated by high levels of people attending A&E with flu-like symptoms.

The NHS trust – which also runs the Rosie Hospital on the outskirts of Cambridge – will continue to perform cancer, clinically urgent, paediatric surgery and day cases.

Outpatient appointments are continuing as normal, although this will be kept under review.

Anyone whose operation is cancelled is being informed by the NHS trust. It emphasised patients need not telephone to check, since this will put more pressure on the hospitals.

Appointments will be re-scheduled as soon as possible, and patients advised accordingly.

A news release on the NHS trust’s website says: “Cancellations are made on the basis of clinical need and the NHS trust aims to give as much notice as practical. However, the public’s understanding of the pressures on the NHS trust is appreciated at this time.

“Anyone with concerns should contact the telephone number on their appointment slip.

“If you are visiting Addenbrooke’s or The Rosie please be aware only two visitors per patient are permitted at any one time, to keep infection risk to a minimum. Please use hand sanitizers at the entrance to each ward, or wash your hands in the nearby sinks with soap and water. Children should not visit unless agreed with the wards in advance.

“If you need to come into A&E please do not bring large groups of friends and family, since it increases the risk of infection. A&E is really busy so it is important that patients only attend if it is an emergency or a life-threatening condition.”

Similarly, at Stevenage’s Lister Hospital, some planned surgery may need to be postponed and outpatient appointments are going ahead as planned – if this changes, patients will be contacted individually.

Those due to undergo planned surgery should assume it is going ahead unless contacted otherwise.

Emergency department doctors are asking people not to go to A&E unless it’s a life or limb-threatening emergency,

The public can help by staying away from hospital if they have flu-like symptoms, diarrhoea, or have had these symptoms over the last 48 hours.

When it’s not an emergency patients are asked to contact your GP, local pharmacy, or NHS 111 service.