GLOUCESTERSHIRE residents are being urged to avoid putting hospitals under unnecessary strain this winter.

Residents should only visit the county's two main hospital emergency departments or call 999 if it is a life threatening situation.

On a typical day during the year, the two hospital emergency departments in Gloucestershire will treat around 300-350 people. During the Winter months this can rise as high as 400 each day.

Dr Tom Llewellyn, emergency department consultant at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explained: “We would ask patients to think carefully about whether or not their condition or illness is an emergency, as they may be preventing others with life threatening conditions from getting immediate care. An emergency is a critical or life threatening situation, which may include loss of consciousness, severe breathing difficulties, deep wounds, severe chest pain or heavy loss of blood.”

The NHS suggests speaking to a pharmacist who can give expert advice on things like coughs, colds, sore throats, aches and pains, minor sprains and stomach upsets. They can also advise on whether a trip to the doctor, or hospital, is necessary.

If a patient has a ‘flare up’ of a long standing illness such as kidney or lung disease, bronchitis, asthma or diabetes that is not responding to self care or advice from their pharmacist, a call to their GP surgery is the best course of action to take.

Community Hospital Minor Injury Units across Gloucestershire also treat a variety of injuries and illnesses such as sprains, cuts and wounds, minor fractures and minor head injuries.

If people are unsure about what health services to access they are asked to call NHS 111.