A fifth of patients turning up in A & E have self-treatable conditions including sore throats , athlete ’ s foot and head lice , a study has claimed . Researchers have calculated that more than 4 million visits a year are unnecessary – costing the NHS £290 million . Doctors have even reported patients showing up because they were hungover , their false nails were hurting or they had paint in their hair . More than four million A & E visits each year are unnecessary – costing the NHS £290million , a survey claims . Doctors have even reported patients showing up because their children had headlice , or because their false nails were hurting . The analysis of data from 15 A & E units by consultancy firm IMS Health found that 19 per cent of patients had what is called a ‘ self-treatable condition ’ . The data covered one in ten A & E units across England , so if the trends are mirrored across the country , then an estimated 4.1million of the 21.7million visits last year were for minor ailments . The problem is largely caused by the fact that patients find it difficult to see a GP , particularly out of hours . Many go to A & E in the knowledge that they will at least be seen by a doctor that day , even if they have to wait four hours . Even the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has admitted taking his children to casualty at the weekend rather than making an appointment with a GP . But the unnecessary visits are adding to the pressures of busy departments and diverting staff from treating patients who are very seriously ill . It all came to a head in January when 13 hospitals declared major internal incidents in a two-day period as they were unable to cope with the numbers coming through the door . Now experts are urging patients to use local pharmacies , where they can be offered advice and treatment . Matthew Speers , from the Proprietary Association of Great Britain – which represents medicine manufacturers and commissioned the research – said : ‘ Pharmacists are well placed to provide advice to people with minor conditions , ensuring they get support without diverting NHS resources from people who really need them. ’ Figures show that 21.7 million patients attended A & E in 2013/14 - a rise of more than a third in a decade . But Dr Clifford Mann , president of the College of Emergency Medicine , which represents A & E doctors said attempts to divert patients did not work . Dr Mann , an A & E consultant at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton , Dorset , added that the ‘ A & E brand is well-known and trusted ’ so ‘ patients will continue to attend. ’ He said the only solution was to install GP clinics at A & E units so patients with minor ailments could be sent there leaving staff to deal with the more serious cases . Figures show that 21.7 million patients attended A & E in 2013/14 - a rise of more than a third in a decade . And the NHS has missed its target for ensuring 95 per cent of patients are dealt with within four hours every week for the last six months . In November , Jeremy Hunt admitted in the Commons he had taken his own children to A & E ‘ precisely because I didn ’ t want to wait until later on to take them to a GP. ’ ‘ If parents have an unwell child who needs medical attention A & E provides a trusted service . ’
More than 4 million visits a year are unnecessary – costing the NHS £290m . Doctors say some patients have even turned up because they were hungover , their false nails were hurting or they had paint in their hair . The Government has promised to cut waiting times for elective surgery by an average of two weeks and reduce GP workload by 25%.