THE Royal Cornwall Hospital School’s is warning that it is already seeing a rise in the number of people attending its emergency department with only minor problems

The hospital says the school holidays are only just starting to get into full swing and already the Emergency Department at the Royal Cornwall Hospital is seeing a rise in the number of people attending with minor problems that could have been treated elsewhere.

Among the ailments the specialist team have been presented with are sore throats, lumps and bumps, insect bites and frequent urination.

“These are all things that could be attended to much more quickly by speaking to a pharmacist, visiting a GP, or in many cases just using remedies you can buy over the counter or would keep in your medicine cabinet at home,” explains ED Consultant, Dr Toby Slade. “We’re also seeing people presenting with long-standing niggles such as back ache or old sports injuries.

“ED isn’t the place for these sorts of problems and we really do need the support of holidaymakers and local people in using the right services, so that we can concentrate on those who genuinely need the specialist skills and expertise we provide here.”

“For those who simply aren’t sure where best to go, the easiest thing to do is to dial 111. You can get access to expert clinical advice if you need it and, if necessary, an appointment with an out of hours GP, even if you are here on holiday.”

Information on all services available, including up-to-the-minute waiting times at Minor Injury Units across the county, is available on our website – www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk . There’s also a free App providing information on NHS services across Cornwall and Devon – just look for NHSQuicker - https://www.nhsquicker.co.uk/