Almost 700 people attended hospital in Cornwall on bank holiday Monday alone
They showed up at the emergency department, urgent treatment centres and minor injury units across Cornwall
It has been revealed that almost 700 people turned up at hospital in Cornwall on bank holiday alone.
A total of 686 patients attended the emergency department at Treliske, urgent treatment centre or minor injury units in the space of 24 hours.
It comes as Cornwall's entire health service face extreme pressure and rising demand.
Now a fresh plea has gone out, urging people to only use A&E at the Royal Cornwall Hospital for life-threatening injuries and illnesses only.
Posting on social media, hospital bosses said: "A massive 686 people attended our Emergency Department, Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injury Units across #Cornwall on Monday.
"If you need health care and it's not a 999 emergency #HelpUsHelpYou by calling your own GP or contacting 111 first.
"Keep A&E for emergencies."
A&E at the Royal Cornwall Hospital is so busy it was recently described as being 'like New Year every day', prompting Cornwall's health bosses to issue a joint letter laying bare the extreme surge in demand on our entire health care system which remains on its highest OPEL 4 alert level.
Last week, the South Western Ambulance Service revealed that it is dealing with around 3,000 emergency incidents every day.
Thatis the equivalent of more than two new emergencies every minute.
Numbers are 15% higher than the same time last year, due to unprecedented high-level demand on NHS services in the South West.
Various factors are thought to be contributing to the rise in demand, including more people socialising and an increase in Covid-19 transmission rates in the community.
Demand has been so high that SWASFT declared a 'critical incident' at the end of May.
The trust recorded its busiest week in history at the end of July, taking the equivalent of one emergency call every 26 seconds.
Earlier in August, South Western Ambulance Service announced it was drafting in a 'small number of military personnel' to help get vehicles back on the road.