Two surgeries in Alton are offering only urgent medical care until further notice as doctors deal with the pressures of winter infections.

The Wilson Practice, based at Alton Health Centre in Anstey Road, was first to break the bad news on December 20.

In a statement, it said: “We are seeing unparalleled demand for appointments due to winter pressures and patients concerned about Strep A and other infections.

“The whole of the health and social care system is under extreme pressure and NHS England has asked all practices in Hampshire to free up capacity by postponing routine work.

“We are also managing a significant amount of staff sickness. Bearing this in mind, until further notice, The Wilson Practice will be offering only urgent medical care.

“We have turned off e-consult and would ask that you only contact the practice or 111 if you have a genuinely urgent problem. Please remember medical emergencies should be handled by the 999 service.

“The surgery is not closed but we are having to work collaboratively with the whole health system to manage unprecedented demand in the face of significantly depleted resources.”

It recommended using the NHS Choices website, or the Healthier Together site www.what0-18.nhs.uk for under-18s, for non-urgent matters.

Similar problems are affecting Chawton Park Surgery in Chawton Park Road, which said on December 21: “We have taken the hard decision today to move to an urgent on the day care service.

“This is due to extreme demands from winter pressures, concerns about Strep A and the ambulance service strikes.

“If you need to contact the surgery for a routine matter, please complete an e-consult via our practice website.

“We are doing our best to ensure patients who need to be seen on the same day can be.

“We may not have capacity to see everyone and understand that delays getting through can be frustrating.

“We apologise for longer than usual waits to speak to our reception team.”