HANGOVERS, broken nails and sunburn- these are just some of the things people pitch up to Accident and Emergency with.

But doctors are urging residents to think twice before jumping in their cars to recount their tale of woe.

According to Darent Valley Hospital, 60,000 people visit their A and E department each year.

But a whopping 25 per cent could be seen by their GP.

Clinical director for emergency medicine, Doctor Dylan Jenkins at Darent Valley Hospital says people have come in under bizarre circumstances.

He said: “One Christmas, a family of five came into A and E for a pre Christmas lunch checkup.

“We told them we’d see them in three hours after we’d eaten our own Christmas lunch.

“Another time, we had a man come in during a total eclipse who thought he may have looked at the sun.

“He had no symptoms whatsoever.”

People have been known to enter A and E with a whole host of ailments, including broken fingernails, sore backs, insect bites and hangover.

Dr Jenkins recommends people instead visit their GP, NHS walk in centres or phone NHS direct if they are unsure.

He said: “More than often the problem can be sorted out that way.

“If everyone comes to A and E, there is a fantastic amount of work and documentation to be done.

“These people are taking up spaces when more seriously ill people may need them.”

Doctors stress holiday periods are often the worst when people tend to drink more, which results in a higher number seeking unnecessary A and E attention.