Toothache, constipation and an insect bite are just some of the minor reasons why people have gone to A&E.

One patient even turned up to Medway’s overstretched emergency department to ask for a prescription.

The NHS has revealed the alarming list of ailments as it urges people to think twice before going to A&E. They were collected during just one month in the department, in June last year.

Medway’s A&E was designed to see 50,000 people a year, but patient numbers now stand at 90,000 and waiting times are among the worst in the country.

During the audit, just over 7,000 people who attended A&E were not admitted and were deemed as non-urgent cases.

The survey found many people turned up to A&E with ailments they had been suffering for days or even weeks – when they could have seen a GP or pharmacist.

This included someone who had been suffering back pain for five days and someone who had injured their neck picking something up three weeks before.

Half of attendees said the hospital was the first place they visited with their complaint, significantly higher for Medway residents than those living in the Swale area, suggesting people will often go to A&E because they think it is the nearest and easiest option.

"Your accident and emergency department should be kept as free as possible" - Dr Chris Markwick

Dr Chris Markwick, who leads urgent care at Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, which buys healthcare services for the Towns, said everyone has a part to play in easing pressure on A&E.

He said: “We all want specialist medical help to be available to us if we need it in an emergency situation.

Your accident and emergency department should be kept as free as possible to make sure people in life-­threatening situations are seen as quickly as they can be.

“We can all play a part in this by making sure that when it’s not an emergency, we seek advice and treatment from the range of health professionals working in the community or call NHS 111 if we’re not sure where to go.”