PATIENT champion Russ McLean said the NHS should do more to educate the public about health services.

The chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group said more patient education could help ease pressure on Blackburn’s emergency room, which has struggled to cope with surges in attendances in recent years.

Mr McLean has suggested NHS workers could visit schools to teach children about the problems, and show them which services are appropriate for various problems.

He added: “We need to make sure people go to the right place for care. Thirty or 40 years ago people would be more confident to self care, but now some people cut themselves and think they need to go to A&E.

“I’m not sure that throwing additional resources at it will solve the problems, as there needs to be a lot more done on patient education.”