A senior GP in Herefordshire is urging residents to prepare ahead for healthcare this May Bank Holiday weekend to help people make the right choice and ease pressure on local hospitals.

Following a busy week of junior doctor industrial action at hospitals in Herefordshire, healthcare staff are busy rescheduling patient appointments and operations, and caring for seriously ill patients.

Dr Dominic Horne, Clinical Vice Chair at NHS Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “There are many healthcare options available in the county if you fall ill, but it’s not serious. We advise residents to consider alternatives for minor injuries and illnesses, to avoid unnecessary longer waits in the hospital A&E departments, which are already managing high numbers of patient attendances and preparing for another busy bank holiday.

“These alternative options include: pharmacies, Herefordshire’s Walk-In centre on Belmont Road, which is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, extended hours GP services and the minor injury units at Ledbury and Kington.

“If you are unsure which service you need or require non-emergency medical guidance, call NHS 111, 24 hours a day, for free advice.”

Jon Barnes, chief operating officer at Wye Valley NHS Trust, added: “Our staff are working extremely hard to see and treat patients with rescheduled operations and appointments following this week’s industrial action, so we are calling on local residents to help reduce unnecessary pressure on our services this weekend.

“We prepare in advance to cope with the extra people we know we will be caring for, but this year the figures have surpassed anything we’ve experienced before. On one day, our Emergency Department team saw 193 patients.

“If your illness or condition is not serious, please don’t attend Hereford County Hospital’s Emergency Department unnecessarily. Our priority is seeing and treating people with serious life threatening conditions or illnesses, such as heart attacks, road incident injuries, and breathing difficulties.

“You will be seen and treated more quickly with a minor injury or illness using alternative NHS services in Herefordshire this weekend”.

NHS alternatives:

· Telephoning NHS 111

· Visiting the Herefordshire Walk-In Centre, by ASDA, Belmont Road, Hereford, which is open 8am to8pm

· Attending the Ledbury Community Health and Care Centre Minor Injury Unit, which is open 24-hours-a-day,

· Visiting Kington Health and Social Care Centre Minor Injury Unit, which is open from 8am to 8pm

· Using the Taurus extended hours GP services at Wargrave House Surgery, St Owen Street, Hereford, open 8am until 8pm; or The Marches Surgery, Westfield Walk, Leominster, and Pendeen Surgery, Kent Avenue, Ross-on-Wye, both of which are open from 10am to 2pm this Bank Holiday weekend. Visit www.taurushealthcare.co.uk (7 day access)

· Seek advice from your local pharmacy. For more information on local health services, visit www.nhs.uk