PATIENTS are turning up to Royal Blackburn Hospital's emergency department with colds and conjunctivitis, hospital chiefs have revealed.

East Lancashire Hospitals Trust bosses have also said that some other people are attending A&E with minor urine infections and minor upper respiratory illnesses.

They are now warning patients to think twice before attending what is one of the busiest A&Es in the country.

Professor Damian Riley, acting chief executive at the trust, said: “In Pennine Lancashire we work together as a whole health system to plan and deliver high quality, effective services, not just at the hospital but also in the primary care and community setting.

“As part of this work we actively try to educate people about the services that are available and how to access them appropriately. This means that people are seen by an appropriate clinician, in an appropriate setting in an appropriate timeframe.

“However, we do still see people turning up to A&E with complaints such as conjunctivitis, minor upper respiratory illness and colds, and minor urine infections."

Prof Riley said that people could be more easily dealt with by visiting the pharmacist or GP.

For minor injuries such as sprains, bruising and cuts, he said it would often be quicker to attend minor injuries units in Accrington and Rossendale, where they also have the facilities to carry out x-rays.

He added: “The CCGs covering East Lancashire have improved access to GPs through the extended hours service, which means you can access a GP 24 hours a day. Though it is important to note that should patients no longer need a GP appointment, we urge them to cancel it to enable that appointment to be allocated to someone else in need of care.

"“Urgent medical appointments can be accessed via a phone call to your GP surgery or NHS 111. Always consider using alternatives such as your local pharmacist, NHS 111 or online services, the emergency dental line for urgent dental problems, as well as the minor injuries units for minor trauma. These are all available across the Pennine Lancashire area and you will often be seen much quicker.”