RESIDENTS and visitors are being urged to ensure they use the right healthcare services over the bank holiday weekend.

Health chiefs are reminding people that Newton Abbot Hospital’s minor injuries unit will be open along with its X-ray facilities.

X-ray services are being extended for tomorrow.

The MIU will be open from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the X-ray facility will be open between 9am and 5pm on all three days.

The MIU can deal with a host of complaints including cuts, grazes and wounds, sprains, muscle and joint injuries, fractures, skin complaints, minor head injuries, eye problems and emergency contraception.

Liz Davenport, chief operating officer of Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust, said: ‘We are encouraging residents and visitors to choose the most appropriate NHS service to keep their needs over the bank holiday weekend.

‘Our accident and emergency department at Torbay Hospital sees about 70,000 patients a year, some of whom came in with minor injuries and ailments or common illnesses which could have been self-medicated or treated by a more appropriate NHS service.

‘In addition to our MIU centres, there is the NHS 111 advice service which is manned by trained nurses 24 hours a day, seven days and week.

‘A number of pharmacies will be open over the bank holiday to ensure medicines are readily available and to provide expert health advice.’

From the end of September, X-ray services at Newton Abbot will be available 9am to 5pm seven days a week.