DEPUTY minister for health Vaughan Gething AM praised the work of NHS and social services staff under a time of significant pressure.

In a written statement to assembly members he said: “Winter is a very busy period for our health, social care and social services – urgent and emergency care services in Wales, in particular, have experienced significant pressures over the Christmas period and into the New Year.

“I would like to pay tribute to all health and social care staff across Wales who have worked tirelessly, often in difficult situations, to ensure that those people who have needed urgent and emergency care have received high-quality treatment and services and have been treated with care and compassion.”

He said GP out of hours services experienced their busiest festive period since they were established.

There was also a significant rise in the most critically ill patients using ambulances, with 725 category A calls on New Year’s day - a 17.5 per cent increase on the previous year - and a rise in the number of elderly patients with complex needs and chronic conditions.

Wales has the highest proportion of people over 85 in the UK.

The Welsh Government’s ‘Choose Well’ campaign urges people only to go to A+E when there is a genuine emergency.

The NHS Direct Wales helpline which can advise on appropriate treatment can be contacted on 0845 46 47.