Shortages of staff at Kingsbridge Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) have partially led to the temporary closure of Tavistock MIU.

A number of staff from Tavistock have been sent to the South Hams facility with others going to Cumberland UTC in Plymouth.

According to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust the facility will remain closed until at least Saturday.

Health services in the South Hams and in Devon as a whole have been under increased pressure.

It has been announced that Exeter’s Nightingale Hospital will stay open for another two years,

The Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) Hospital is operating at a third over capacity because of high patient numbers, "sustained demand" for Covid beds and ongoing staffing issues.

Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group Dr Paul Johnson said: "We really need you to support us.

"Please ask yourself whether you have a genuine life-threatening emergency before attending an emergency department.

"If you are not in the right place, you may be redirected to a more appropriate service. This is because we need to safely prioritise those with the most urgent need.

"We are also asking people to pick up friends or relatives as soon as they are well enough to be discharged from hospital. This frees up beds for other patients who need them.

"Finally, we are seeing high numbers of children coming to hospital. There is a really useful HANDi paediatric app for advice on common childhood illnesses and when to seek help."