AN Okehampton GP has appealed to older people in the town to attend the flu clinics which are being organised at the Medical Centre during October.

Dr Paul Nielson said it was 'crucial' that people attend, in order to avoid a repeat of last year's massive wave of illness which caused havoc in the region's hospitals.

Dr Nielson said: 'Flu for the older person can be a very unpleasant experience.

'Last year the NHS was brought to it's knees — there were 600 admissions in one working week at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital last winter.'

Dr Nielson said the uptake of beds by flu patients had a knock-on effect in other areas which is still being seen in hospital waiting lists.

'The list for long term surgery has gone up as a result and the government is really keen to try and bring down admissions in the first place. Preventing flu is crucial,' he said.

Dr Nielson advised Medical Centre patients over the age of 65 to attend the drop-in flue clinics which are being held in the Centre every Saturday in October and the first Saturday in November, between 8.30am and 3.30pm.

No appointment is required — patients will be seen in the order in which they arrive.

Dr Nielson said the clinics have plenty of vaccine, so if the waiting room is particularly busy he advises patients to return at another time.