Today's industrial action by ambulance staff has prompted a warning from Great Western Hospital bosses.
A spokesperson said: "If you need life-saving care today, please call 999 as usual.
"The ambulance service will prioritise those who are in more serious or life-threatening cases, so you might need to wait longer than usual to be seen.
"Women and birthing people who are pregnant are encouraged to arrange transport to hospital should they need it. Our midwives are here to help, so please contact them if you need any advice."
The call echoes advice from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, which serves Swindon.
It urged patients to use alternative ways of accessing treatment, such as calling for advice on 111 or contacting GPs and pharmacies.
Chief executive Will Warrender said: “Please help us to help those patients who need us most by only calling 999 if a patient has a life-threatening condition or illness.
“We know there are patients waiting for an ambulance, and we will get to you as soon as we can. We are sorry that we are unable to respond as quickly as we would like.
“We are doing all we can to manage winter pressures and the upcoming industrial action, including receiving military support during industrial action days which will allow our ambulance clinicians to be manning more ambulances and reach patients more quickly.
“The public can help us by only calling 999 for life threatening emergencies, we absolutely must have crews available for the most life-threatening conditions and we will be prioritising these patients.
“Please do not call back asking for an estimated time of arrival of an ambulance. We cannot provide this information and it blocks our lines from other callers reaching us.
“If the condition of a patient is not life-threatening we may direct you to alternative services. So please help us by accessing the right service for the care you need.
“I’d like to express my huge thanks to our people and NHS partners working to deliver the best possible care they can for our patients over the coming weeks.”
"The ambulance service will prioritise those who are in more serious or life-threatening cases, so you might need to wait longer than usual to be seen.
"Women and birthing people who are pregnant are encouraged to arrange transport to hospital should they need it. Our midwives are here to help, so please contact them if you need any advice."
The call echoes advice from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, which serves Swindon.
It urged patients to use alternative ways of accessing treatment, such as calling for advice on 111 or contacting GPs and pharmacies.
Chief executive Will Warrender said: “Please help us to help those patients who need us most by only calling 999 if a patient has a life-threatening condition or illness.
“We know there are patients waiting for an ambulance, and we will get to you as soon as we can. We are sorry that we are unable to respond as quickly as we would like.
“We are doing all we can to manage winter pressures and the upcoming industrial action, including receiving military support during industrial action days which will allow our ambulance clinicians to be manning more ambulances and reach patients more quickly.
“The public can help us by only calling 999 for life threatening emergencies, we absolutely must have crews available for the most life-threatening conditions and we will be prioritising these patients.
“Please do not call back asking for an estimated time of arrival of an ambulance. We cannot provide this information and it blocks our lines from other callers reaching us.
“If the condition of a patient is not life-threatening we may direct you to alternative services. So please help us by accessing the right service for the care you need.
“I’d like to express my huge thanks to our people and NHS partners working to deliver the best possible care they can for our patients over the coming weeks.”
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