SOUTH Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is urging the public to Choose Well this Easter and to stop and think before dialling 999.

The service has been hit by increasing demand in recent months and is urging people to only call them out in the event of a life-threatening emergency such as choking, chest pain, stroke, serious blood loss and unconsciousness.

Alternative healthcare options for less serious conditions include visiting your GP or local pharmacy, visiting a minor injury unit or NHS walk-in centre, or calling NHS111.

People are also being asked to check they have enough medication to get them through the Bank Holiday period and to check on elderly, infirm or vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours.

Neil Le Chevalier, Director of Operations at SWASFT, said: “All our staff out on the road and in the control rooms are working extremely hard to deliver the right care to our patients.

"With the onset of spring comes an influx of visitors to the region and this Easter we want to ensure that residents and tourists alike know where to access the most appropriate treatment depending on what is wrong with them.

“To assist the public in making the right decision when it comes to choosing from the range of health services on offer, we have produced a leaflet which is available to download from our website.

“There are a wide variety of healthcare services available for a range of conditions and it is really important that people choose well, especially during periods when the demand for the ambulance service is high.”