(WPRI) — As more people become infected with respiratory illnesses, some hospitals are seeing fewer open beds and higher wait times in emergency rooms. Southcoast Health, which owns Charlton in Fall River and Saint Luke's in New Bedford, told 12 News there has been an influx of patients infected with the flu, COVID, pneumonia and RSV. Due to the increase in illnesses, they have seen higher than anticipated wait times and in rare situations, delays in bed availability. "The clinical teams at all three of our hospitals have been doing an excellent job triaging and caring for patients while ensuring they are all receiving high-quality care in a timely manner," Executive Vice President Renee Clark said. Southcoast Health is encouraging everyone to stay up to date on vaccinations, do routine preventative screenings, and get care early in the right places. Jessica Wharton, a spokesperson for Brown University Health, said their facilities are seeing a similar uptick in respiratory cases. "Hospitals nationwide tend to experience higher patient volumes during the holiday season," Wharton said in a statement. "We appreciate your patience as our emergency rooms are open and committed to providing exceptional care to all patients." Brown University Health encourages anyone experiencing respiratory issues to consider going to an urgent care center for the their initial evaluation. "These centers are well-equipped and offer the same viral testing and chest X-ray capabilities, ensuring timely and effective care," Wharton added. NEXT: Nasty norovirus is back in full force with US cases of the stomach virus surging Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW