EXTRA staff have been brought in by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to deal with an increase in calls to the GP Out of Hours Service this winter.
More than 8,500 calls have been made to the Out of Hours Service since Christmas, including people who could have waited to see their GP during normal hours, visited a pharmacist, an optician or dentist.
Staff also made 349 home visits, provided over 2,400 face-to-face appointments, dealt with 604 dental patients and arranged 309 dental appointments.
The service has been under significant pressure over recent week, with overall demand during the period rising by 20 per cent compared to the same time last year.
To check for the most suitable service please visit the Choose Well website at www.choosewellwales.org.uk or NHS Direct Wales at www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/ or call 0845 46 47.
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