For a long time there have been complaints that hospital accident and emergency departments are clogged up by people whose ailments could easily be dealt with by their GP during a routine appointment.

There are several reasons why patients present themselves at A&E when, clinically speaking, it is unnecessary. Some aren't registered with a GP. Others know from experience that it might be several days before they can be seen by a doctor at their busy local practice and they want reassurance as soon as possible. Others simply fail to appreciate that their thoughtlessness is prolonging the distress and pain of other people.

Whatever the reason, though, the outcome is that the genuine emergency cases at A&E are having to wait longer than they should to receive attention. At the BRI the pressure is growing all the time. Last year the unit treated more than 100,000 patients, an eight per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

Given this soaring demand, the creation of a GP unit within the A&E department to filter out and deal with those cases which are not serious enough to merit the attention of specialist A&E staff makes a lot of sense. The policy accepts the reality - that rightly or wrongly some people will turn up with minor, non-urgent ailments - and addresses it in a way which should ensure that waiting times for genuine emergency cases are reduced.

It should also relieve the pressure on staff in an area of hospital work which is notoriously prone to stress.