PRESSURE on the health service is greater than ever and A&E departments seem to be struggling to cope with demand.

In such circumstances, it’s easy to understand why hospital chiefs are urging the public to think carefully before going to A&E.

We would echo that message and encourage people to be mindful of the unprecedented strain on the system and do their bit to help by only attending A&E in the event of an accident or a genuine emergency.

We are also told by the experts that using an alternative to A&E when you are not seriously ill, such as visiting your GP or calling NHS 111, could mean you end up waiting less time to receive care. It all sounds very logical but, as patients well know, it can also be a major challenge trying to get a GP appointment, especially for people with a 9-5 job. When faced with a lengthy wait to see a GP, you can see why some exasperated patients might be tempted to divert directly to hospital A&E departments, thereby creating more pressure on the system.

The fact is that, whichever strand of the NHS you are dealing with, many of the same pressures exist, including the challenge of coping with a growing and ageing population while making finite resources stretch further.

Great credit must go to the backbone of the NHS - its staff - many of whom have offered to do extra shifts to plug the gaps.

But goodwill can only go so far and it seems clear that the situation cannot be allowed to continue on its current path.

A review of funding priorities, some creative thinking and strong leadership are clearly needed if the current trend is to be reversed.