HOSPITALS are struggling to cope with high numbers of people visiting accident and emergency for minor problems such as a sore throat or a headache according to health bosses.

Doctors are urging residents not to “clog up” hospital systems unless there is a real emergency.

Airedale Hospital saw nearly 700 patients pass through the doors of its emergency department on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

And hospital chiefs are warning people that they could be in for a long wait if they turn up with a minor illness.

Stacey Hunter, chief operating officer at Airedale NHS Trust, said although staff have seen no strange reasons for people visiting the emergency department so far this festive season, patients have been coming in to request prescriptions or with non-urgent chronic conditions such as long-term back pain after an injury.

She said: “Many seriously ill patients are correctly brought in for emergency treatment, however over this Christmas period there have also been dozens of patients with minor injuries and illnesses coming to accident and emergency when they could have been seen at an urgent GP appointment, by a community nursing team or pharmacist.

“Even though these patients make up a relatively small proportion, they still have an impact on the resources available for those who really need them.”

She advised people with minor problems to visit a pharmacy or call NHS 111 for advice because patients in the emergency department are cared for in order of the severity of their illness, meaning those with non-urgent injuries face a long wait.

A spokesman for Bradford Royal Infirmary said their accident and emergency department had also been “very busy” over the festive period and urged people to think twice before coming to hospital unless there is a real emergency.

Dr Bryan Gill, medical director at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s normal to see an increase in demand for services following bank holidays, but our message remains the same: always think carefully before coming to accident and emergency so that our staff are free to deal with those patients who really need our help.

“Attending with less serious conditions – which could have been dealt with either by a pharmacist, advice from NHS 111 or nhs.uk or a GP – clogs up our system and takes valuable resources away from those most vulnerable and sickest patients.

“Please help your local NHS do its job and don’t come to A&E unless it’s a real emergency.”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service has also been busy and received 6,219 calls over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Dr Steven Dykes, deputy medical director at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “Whilst the total number of incidents we have responded to over Christmas has remained similar to last year, we have seen a greater number of calls to patients who are very poorly, including cardiac arrests and major haemorrhages and many with breathing difficulties due to winter illnesses.

“We remain very busy and would urge people with less serious medical problems to use alternative healthcare options such as GPs, pharmacies, walk-in centres, minor injuries units and NHS 111.”

Dr David Tatham, clinical lead for urgent and emergency care at the district’s CCGs, said: “The teams at Bradford Royal Infirmary and Airedale General Hospital have worked incredibly hard over the festive period to provide high quality patient care.

“But we can all do our bit to make sure emergency services are there for those people most in need.”