PEOPLE are being urged to use the NHS 111 number for urgent medical care other than emergencies.

With GP surgeries closed for Easter health chiefs are keen to avoid overloading emergency services over the holiday weekend.

Dr James Gossow, Regional Clinical Lead for NHS 111 said: “By ‘Keeping Calm and calling NHS 111’ North Easterners can ensure that our busy A&E departments are able to focus their resources on those people who are most seriously ill.

“The North-East is one of the highest performing areas in the country for the NHS 111 service and was one of the first pilot areas when the service was introduced in 2010.

“When you call NHS 111, you will speak to the same highly trained call handlers who deal with 999 emergencies and be directed to the most appropriate service to meet your needs, first time.”

NHS 111 is the number to call when you need medical help fast, but it is not a 999 emergency.

Using NHS 111 will free valuable resources in A&E departments for those people who are most seriously ill.

The NHS 111 service has been running in the North-East since August 2010, The service is run by the North East Ambulance Service