A hospital trust and Harrow Council are calling for people to make use of the borough’s Urgent Care Centre to take pressure of A&E units.

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes Northwick Park hospital, and the council are urging people to use the centre’s during the winter when they are unable to see their GP .

Urgent Care Centres, which are open 24 hours a day all year and deal with for minor ailments such as cuts, grazes, strains, sprains and ear or throat infections.

Director of operations at the trust Tina Benson said: “Winter is always a busy time for our highly skilled staff in our emergency departments.

“In order to keep our skilled staff dealing with emergencies, such as life-threatening heart attacks, strokes and road traffic accidents members of the public can help by using other local services, such as urgent care centres for minor injuries and ailments.”

Both the trust and the council hope by more people using the urgent care centre, based at Northwick Park Hospital, will take pressure away from A&E units during the busy winter months.

Ailments such as snoring, waxy ears, and ingrowing toe nails have all been treated by A&E departments over the past year.

Cabinet member for health and wellbeing Cllr Simon Williams said: “When people want to see a doctor, often their first thought is to go to A&E, when in fact it may be more appropriate to visit their GP or local pharmacist or go to an urgent care centre.

“This is particularly important during the winter months when more people become unwell because of the cold conditions, and there is extra pressure on NHS services.

“By letting people know about alternative places to go, we hope to ease some of this pressure on our hospitals.”