The north’s biggest hospital recorded a 28% rise in A&E attendance in the run-up to Christmas compared to last year.
NHS chiefs revealed that Raigmore Hospital in Inverness was one of six sites across Scotland to experience an increase of more than a quarter in the week ending December 24.
Across the country, 26,569 people visited A&E that week, which was up by almost 20% on the figure from 12 months ago.
Health boards attributed the rise to “acute seasonal illnesses”, and the rate of GP consultations for flu and respiratory infections having spiralled by more than a quarter.
Last week, children and pregnant women were warned not to visit Raigmore because medics were fighting to keep flu and winter viruses under control.
NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service also reported significant rises in call volume.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said: “These figures illustrate the demands being placed on health staff right across Scotland as a result of spikes in various illnesses such as flu.
“However, we can all play a part in ensuring demand on our most acute services is minimised, by taking time to think of the best way to access treatment.”
Health Secretary Shona Robison added: “Our NHS and community health service do a fantastic job all year round, but there is no doubt that winter can bring additional demands and I would like to thank them once again for the dedication they have shown during this busy winter period.
“We’re working with boards to help them cope with pressures, and this year alone we have invested £22.4m to create extra resilience across the system.”
Figures published yesterday showed that, across Scotland, 83.3% of patients were seen and either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in the week before Christmas, against a target of 95%.
It represented a slight increase from 81.1% the previous week and was down from 93.5% on the same week the previous year.