RESIDENTS who attend Warrington Hospital's A&E department unnecessarily will be ordered home under a new scheme.

Patients who attend the emergency department when not necessary will be asked to go home by nurses.

Their GP surgery will then contact them to arrange treatment on the same day.

Health bosses hope that the scheme will reduce pressure on the hospital's A&E department, with avoidable visits causing delays for patients who are genuine emergencies.

Dr Jaish Puri, GP and clinical lead for urgent care at NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "Our A&E only has the capacity to treat people who have serious, life-threatening or dangerous conditions and ambulance should only be called in genuine emergencies.

"Please do not be offended if you attend A&E and your condition is judged to be suitable to be redirected elsewhere, such as your GP.

"Avoidable visits put a strain on our resources but with support from the public we can make sure that we keep it as free as possible for those who do have medical emergencies.

"If you are unsure, please call NHS 111 to help you decide."

Residents should utilise pharmacists, out-of-hours GP services and the urgent care centres at Halton Hospital in Runcorn and Widnes Health Care Resource Centre on Caldwell Road if their condition is not life-threatening.

Dr Puri added: "Avoidable A&E attendances are putting a strain on the hospital as a whole.

"We're already doing all we can to move our patients through A&E smoothly, but we need your help to ensure our sickest patients are seen as quickly as possible.

"Your actions could make all the difference to those who really need our care.