Devon NHS in call to ease 999 pressures

"It's vital that those who need medical help come forward as they usually would, using 999 and A&E in life threatening emergencies and 111 online for everything else alongside their GP practices and pharmacies," he said.

Devon's acute hospitals in Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstaple are also seeing increased cases of norovirus, a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Dr Acheson said that visitors should stay away if they were sick, as it could make it harder for staff to care for those in need.

Strikes by junior doctors were also taking place amidst one of the most difficult starts to the year for health services in Devon, he said.