Health chiefs are today reminding people across North Kent with minor illness and non-urgent problems to seek help elsewhere to reduce the pressure on Medway hospital's emergency department.

The plea comes a week after the hospital asked non-emergency patients to stay away from the A&E department as it was experiencing abnormally high attendances.

The department saw more than 320 people yesterday, and similar high numbers over the last festive period has put undue pressure on over-burdened staff and health chiefs say there are not enough beds available.

Senior matron Clare Hughes said: “Patients inappropriately visiting the emergency department are placing considerable strain on the hospital.

“We’re now in the very worrying position of having more people coming in than we have beds available. This can have very serious consequences for seriously ill patients who need our help.

“We have to treat the most unwell patients first, which means that those coming to the department who have minor illnesses or non-life-threatening conditions are experiencing very long delays. Please consider whether our emergency department is the right option for you before coming.”

"We’re now in the very worrying position of having more people coming in than we have beds available" - Clare Hughes, senior matron

Mrs Hughes’ plea is backed up by Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, which is responsible for planning and buying NHS services.

Spokesman Caroline Selkirk said: “If you attend A&E with a minor illness you are likely to experience an extremely long wait as staff must prioritise those patients with serious or life-threatening injuries and illnesses.”

There is also a free app to help you find the right treatment – Health Help Now. The app provides you with an immediate list of symptoms and offers a variety of different treatment methods and then links through to local services, informing you if they are open or closed and their location.

Mrs Hughes said: “We urge you to consider these other options, where you are likely to receive the treatment you need more quickly before visiting the emergency department. This will reduce the pressure on the department and also means we can provide attention to the people who really need our care.”

Where else can you get treatment?

Pharmacists can offer advice as soon as you start to feel unwell.

Trained nurses at minor injury units (MIUs), which are open every day of the year, can assess and treat cuts, sprains, minor burns, minor dislocations of the fingers and toes, minor eye injuries and remove foreign bodies from, for example, ears and noses. MIUs cannot treat babies under one year old. MIUs are open every day of the year.

• Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital, Bell Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4DT. Phone 01795 418300. Open 9am to 9pm.
• Sheppey Community Hospital, Plover Road, Minster, ME12 3LT. Phone 01795 879100. Open 9am to 9pm.
• Gravesham Community Hospital, Bath Street, Gravesend, DA11 0DG. Phone 01474 360816. Open 8am to 8pm.

Walk-in centres are staffed by health professionals that will see you without an appointment if you have an urgent concern. These are open 8am-8pm.

• Medway GP Walk-in Centre, Balmoral Gardens Healthy Living Centre, Gillingham, ME7 4PN. Phone 01634 331177.
• Sheppey NHS GP Walk-in Centre, Sheppey Community Hospital, Plover Road, Minster, ME12 3LT. Phone 01795 879199.
• White Horse GP Walk-in Centre, Vale Road, Northfleet, DA11 8BZ. Phone 0300 0300 000.