AS emergency departments across the country feel the pressure of the winter cold snap, with slips, trips and falls, hospital bosses are asking people to think before attending A&E Dr Chris Gordon, divisional director of medicine and elderly care at Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “During winter there is always an increase in the pressures on staff, and we would like to ask the public to bear this in mind when considering attending A&E. “We would advise people, particularly the elderly, to be sure to keep warm in the colder weather, and to be careful when the ground is slippery – prevention is always better than cure.

“If you are feeling under the weather you should contact your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.”

The Minor Injuries Unit at Andover War Memorial Hospital is open from 8.30am to 9.30pm to treat burns, head injuries, sprains and broken bones. The X-ray department is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday for minor injuries.