A LEADING north Cumbrian emergency doctor has issued a plea not to behave irresponsibly upon the reopening of pubs and bars tomorrow.

With pubs and bars reopening for the first time across the county since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown, there were concerns that overenthusiastic revellers could land themselves in trouble.

Dr Craig Melrose, GP clinical lead urgent & emergency care at the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust, said: “The NHS has coped admirably during this time and the support we have received from local Cumbrian communities has been absolutely brilliant.

“However we still need to avoid overwhelming our A&E departments. Alcohol excess and related injuries are avoidable, they put pressure on our A&E departments which in turn limits our abilities to deal with other emergencies.

“We would remind the public to act responsibly, drink responsibly and to maintain social distancing.

“It is also important people choose the services most appropriate for their needs. It has never been more important that our Emergency Departments are for emergencies only.

“We need everyone to play their part, the threat of coronavirus has not gone away.”