HEALTH chiefs at an under pressure Hampshire hospital have urged patients with minor injuries to attend a closure-threatened Gosport hospital.

They say that the accident and emergency department at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, treats 300 people on a typical day, but this increases by 30 per cent over the December festive season.

They are asking people with minor injuries to attend Haslar instead where they can be dealt with by nurse practitioners at the accident treatment centre.

Councillor Peter Edgar, who is spearheading the campaign to save Haslar from closure, said: "I am delighted the enhanced treatment centre at Haslar is being recognised by the health authority.

"This just emphasises the importance of Haslar to the community. It plays an absolutely vital role and must remain open."

Others thought it ironic that with Haslar's future uncertain, the health authority was now asking people to use it.

Sibbs Singh, of Ambleside, Sarisbury, said his two children had received exemplary and quick treatment at Haslar.

He said: "My daughter, Lara, now eight years old, broke her ankle two years ago and my son broke his wrist this summer.

"On both occasions I took them to Haslar where the treatment was highly efficient. To talk of closing Haslar when it is providing such a valuable service for a wide area is crazy, especially as QA is so busy."

Health chiefs warn that patients who use A&E at QA for minor conditions may have to wait a long time to be seen and stress dentistry and emergency contraception are not available at A&E.

Simon Mullett, A&E consultant with Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "To help A&E departments to cope with these peaks of work it is important that people use them appropriately.

"Sometimes people go to A&E when they could have used another service - NHS Direct or their GP out-of-hours service.

"If their condition or illness is not an emergency, they may be preventing others with life-threatening conditions from getting immediate care."

The authority emphasised that people with accidental injuries - wounds, minor burns, sprains, broken bones, cuts and bruises - could most likely be dealt with at Haslar.