Frontline NHS staff at west Hertfordshire hospitals have been recommended to postpone their annual leave when possible, the Watford Observer understands.

This comes after the chief nurse at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust issued a seperate public appeal for the public to stay at home after seeing “too many” people coming in and staff are working “flat out”.

In a verified message issued to staff members at the trust - which runs Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals – staff were told “urgent help” is needed, particularly over the next few days.

Annual leave for frontline staff that may have been booked between now and February is urged to be postponed.

While the request does not formally force staff to cancel their annual leave, it says the recommendation is voluntary, but urgent.

The Observer understands staff were told that to not postpone their leave if it has a “detrimental impact” to their wellbeing.

The holiday flex scheme, which allows staff to sell a maximum of five days of annual leave, will continue. Staff who follow this scheme will have an extra 25 per cent premium for their dedication.

Clinicians are also being called to work additional shifts over the coming weeks due to ongoing admissions.

Beds occupied at west Hertfordshire hospitals has increased significantly over the last two months, with latest NHS data showing a peak of 285 beds occupied by Covid patients on December 30.

In a separate appeal to the public, chief nurse Tracey Carter said: “Sadly we are seeing too many people coming into hospital with COVID-19, more now than in the Spring. Please don’t let you or your friends and family be one of them.

“Staff are already working flat out to look after patients and keep services running - but we can’t do this by ourselves. We need everyone in Hertfordshire to do their bit and do the right thing by staying at home wherever possible. If you do go out, wash your hands, keep your distance, cover your face, and spend as little time as possible out of your home.”

Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor shared his support over the trust's decision and said: "I am sure this request from the hospital has not been taken lightly. It shows how incredibly serious the current situation is.

"So many of us have been working hard to keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed but unfortunately the virus is spreading very quickly in our town. Everyone needs to do their bit to help NHS staff who are working flat out. It is essential that household bubbles do not mix, if we are to prevent the local NHS being overwhelmed.”

Speaking on the ongoing stress the NHS is facing, British Medical Association (BMA) council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “As we hear more reports of hospitals declaring major incidents, ICU beds reaching 100 percent capacity in parts of the country, and patients having to be transferred to other hospitals for care, it is vital that everything possible is done to bring down the spread of the virus.”

“The simple fact is, that if we continue at this trajectory, the health service will struggle to get patients in urgent need of care, the care they need – we must all be able to depend upon the NHS. The message now and in the coming weeks ahead must be one of utmost caution and safety as many lives will depend upon it.”