FAMILY doctors in Somerset are urging their patients to think carefully before they ask for out-of-hours treatment or rush to casualty departments with minor ailments.
Dr Harry Yoxhall, secretary to the Somerset Local Medical Committee and a GP at Blackbrook Surgery in Taunton said: "Out of hours GP services and hospital A&E should be used for medical emergencies and not minor ailments which could have been terated by yourself or with advice from your pharmacist of NHS Direct."
"The 24-hour telephone health information service NHS Direct is always available. Simply call 0845-4647 for immediate health advice or information about where to find an emergency dentist, emergency contraception or pharmacist over the New Year holiday period."
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