Latest research reveals that tens of thousands of people have visited accident and emergency departments across Bristol over the last year for ailments such as tooth pain and headaches.
Almost 230,000 people across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire attended the area's main A&E units – including the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Southmead Hospital and Weston General Hospital - during 2015/16.
Of these, one in four – nearly 58,000 – were not admitted and received guidance or advice that could have been delivered via an alternative service.
People have visited A&E with a variety of ailments including minor sprains, back pain, coughs and colds, headaches and toothache.
The findings come at the same time as it has been revealed that A&E attendances among patients in the Bristol area rose by 6.2% between 2013/14-2014/15 and a further 2.7% between 2014/15-2015/16.
Children aged up to 10 years old accounted for almost one-third of attendees receiving only advice or guidance at major A&E units in 2015/16 (28%, or 16,443 attendances) and young adults aged 20-34 years accounted for 26% (14,747 attendances).
NHS bosses have now launched the 'Right Care, First Time' campaign in a bid to tackle the high numbers of people attending A&E departments with minor injuries or illnesses which could have been dealt with by a GP or minor injuries unit.
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