Increasing the opening hours at Stratford's minor injuries unit could help ease the pressure on Warwick Hospital's A&E department, a local MP has said.

The comments come from Stratford-upon-Avon MP Manuela Perteghella just days after a 'critical incident' was declared by South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust amid high demand for its services.

The trust has urged locals to only head to Warwick's A&E if absolutely necessary as demand has had a "significant" impact on waiting times.

In response, the Liberal Democrat MP for Stratford has called on the local integrated care board to do what it can to expand the opening hours at the minor injuries unit - currently it is only open three days a week between 9am and 4pm.

"I am writing to raise concerns about the limited opening hours of the minor injuries unit at Stratford Hospital, and the impact this is having on patients locally and on pressure at nearby A&E departments," Ms Perteghella said in a letter.

"Stratford-upon-Avon is fortunate to have a well regarded minor injuries unit, yet it is currently only open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 4pm.

"This means the service is available for just 12.5 per cent of the week.

"Outside of these limited hours, residents with minor injuries are routinely directed to A&E, adding avoidable demand to already overstretched emergency departments."

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The local MP has called on the board to extend the number of days the unit is open and expand the opening times.

She also asked it to explain what barriers are currently in place to prevent these changes.

The letter continued: "This is about making better use of a facility that already exists in a way that benefits patients locally and supports the wider urgent and emergency care system."