New figures have revealed one of the region's hospitals experienced a 5.5pc rise in people coming to A&E.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, treated more than 59,900 patients at its emergency department in 2015/16 compared to 56,779 in 2014/15.

Dorothy Hosein, chief executive of the hospital, said: 'The hospital's challenges are increasing day-on-day.'

The rise was discussed during the hospital's annual general meeting, at which it also emerged that there have been rises in the number of inpatients treated (4.4pc), outpatients seen (5.7pc), and day case procedures carried out (6.4pc).

Despite demand rising the hospital was able to build on improvements from the previous year - resulting in the organisation being lifted out of special measures last August.

Mrs Hosein said: 'This year has been a year of massive achievement and challenges.

'I would like to say a big thank you to staff. 'We have set ourselves ambition and expectation to aim for excellence in all we do.

'We are preparing this hospital for the future so people will say 'There's a district general hospital which is excellent in everything they do'.'

Last year the hospital opened a new breast unit, operating theatre, and birthing unit.