Hospital in bid to ease pressure

A&E patients have been urged to consider visiting a GP or health centre before going to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for treatment.

The hospital has asked patients to help it relieve some of the pressure it is under during the current busy period.

It is on red alert - the second highest alert level - but has been on black alert repeatedly during the past month, with no beds available.

Those with minor ailments can help by seeing a GP instead, the hospital said.

Particularly busy

Andrew Stronach, a spokesman for the hospital, said the convenience of being able to attend A&E at any time has led to many people visiting the hospital rather than booking to see a GP.

He said: "Most of these patients have relatively minor problems."

The appeal came after the hospital was placed on black alert last Thursday, on the back of a "particularly busy" week the previous week which led to further black alerts, Mr Stronach said.

Last year Norfolk and Norwich's A&E department treated 83,000 patients, making it the busiest in the region.