Truro’s Royal Cornwall Hospital and and West Cornwall Hospital have been put “under pressure” by patients turning up for treatment that could be provided by their GP.

There has been a “marked increase” in patients arriving with minor injuries and ailments and health bosses are now encouraging people to think twice before heading to A&E departments.

Examples in the past week include help being sought for a sore throat, non-traumatic back pain, a flare-up on long-standing joint arthritis and mild gastroenteritis.

Dr Andrew Virr, lead consultant for the emergency department at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, said: “Our role here is to treat those with immediate and potentially life-threatening illness and injury.”

via Falmouth Packet.