HEALTH services in Devon say they are ‘extremely busy’, with the high Covid rates impacting on staffing and high temperatures in recent days leading more people to seek medical help.

At the end of last week there were six times as many people in Devon’s hospitals with Covid-19 than the beginning of June; more than 300 patients.

More than 1000 hospital staff were absent due to Covid-19; four times the number in early June.

Community Covid-19 rates are less accurate, due to reduced testing, but have seen similar increases.

People are being asked to do their bit to help reduce pressure on services.

This includes picking family and friends up when they’re ready to be discharged from hospital, choosing the best service to meet your needs if you are unwell or injured, wearing a mask if you have a health appointment or a visiting in hospital and staying at home if you have Covid or symptoms of any infectious disease.

Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon said: ‘We’re here if you need us, but we ask that you support us by helping to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and using the most appropriate service for your health needs. We also thank people for their patience at such a busy time; health staff are doing all they can to ensure people are seen as quickly as possible.

‘If you have a friend or family member who is in hospital, we also ask that you collect them as soon as possible when they are ready to be discharged.

‘This makes the bed available for others who are unwell and reduces pressure on our busy emergency departments.”

l If you have urgent medical needs NHS 111 is on hand 24 hours a day online or by calling 111, leaving emergency departments for life threatening emergencies.