Derriford Hospital doctor's plea as people visit busy A&E for sunburn treatment
Derriford Hospital is asking for people to seek treatment for non-urgent issues elsewhere - after people visited its busy A&E complaining of sunburn.
In a video posted online, emergency department consultant Dr Richard Bullough said the hospital - which is run by the University Plymouth Hospital Trust - has been very busy during half term.
Dr Bullough went on to ask people to make use of their local pharmacies and GP surgeries for non-urgent care.
"Over the last week we have seen a high number of ambulances attending our hospital with very acutely unwell patients.
"These patients often require admission to hospital and as a result our hospital is getting very full during this summer half term.
"We are here to see those very sick patients and we will always see those, but what we are seeing is a high number of patients who perhaps could have attended alternative areas.
"We're seeing a number of patients coming with sunburn who perhaps could see their pharmacist or local GP to have that treated.
"We're seeing a high number of minor injuries such as sprains or small cuts and these can be seen by one of our many minor injuries units such as Tavistock or the Cumberland Centre or even Launceston."
The ambulance service in the South West declared a critical incident over the weekend following a surge in emergency calls.
As a result people are being urged to only call 999 in a genuine and life-threatening emergency.
Alternative options to visiting A&E
Urgent treatment care and minor injury units
Where an injury is not life-threatening but still requires urgent treatment, people can go to the urgent treatment centre at the Cumberland Centre in Plymouth or the minor injuries units are South Hams Hospital in Kingsbridge and at Tavistock Hospital.
They can deal with cuts, small burns, bites and stings, sprains and some fractures, minor head injuries, infected wounds and foreign bodies in eyes.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists are qualified medical professionals and experts in treating minor injuries such as coughs, colds, stomach upsets and aches and pains. They can also help with skin rashes, teething, red eye, ear ache and cystitis.
Read more: