SNOW has forced bosses at Winchester hospital to cancel some outpatient appointments tomorrow (Friday).

Royal Hampshire County Hospital took the decision after the freezing conditions led to a shortage of staff making it into work.

Therapy outpatient appointments – including hydrotherapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy – will be scrapped on Friday.

Routine outpatient appointments will go ahead as normal.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: “The decision to cancel the therapy outpatient appointments is to allow the therapy team – who have experienced some staff shortages – to focus their skills and time on inpatients.”

She added the hospital's accident and emergency department has had 52 weather-related admissions today (24) and yesterday (28).