MEMBERS of the public are being reminded to take care as the cold weather continues to grip the region.

After a busy Christmas and New Year ambulance crews in the region are urging people to be prepared and only dial 999 in an emergency.

On New Year’s Day the Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) received 1,331 calls, 400 of which were in the first three hours. During the three-day Christmas period GWAS received 3,000 999 calls.

To help deal with the continued high demand for emergency care the NHS Choose Well campaign is asking people to think about the best way to obtain treatment, which will ensure emergency ambulances, hospital Accident and Emergency units and hospital beds are available for people who genuinely need them.

Pharmacies, GP surgeries, minor injury units and walk-in treatment centres are all now back to normal operating hours after the holiday period and patients are encouraged to think about using these services in the first instance.

Jonathan Lofthouse, GWAS director of service delivery, said: "This winter, NHS organisations have shown how well they work together to provide the best levels of care for patients, despite very high levels of demand on the service.

"Prolonged spells of cold weather inevitably lead to higher demands on the wider health service - not just through greater numbers of accidents and falls. Longer term and potentially more serious conditions such as breathing problems and chest pains also increase.

"That makes it even more important that emergency care is available for those whose lives genuinely depend on it. Therefore, I would urge people to take care when out and about roads and paths are likely to remain icy even in the middle of the day."

NHS Direct is available 24 hours a day via 0845 46 47 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk