A NORTH Cornwall doctors surgery has announced there will be a shortage of appointments across the week beginning August 5.

Port Isaac Medical Practice, which also includes satellite surgeries across the Bodmin Moor area, including Blisland, St Kew, Delabole, St Mabyn and towards Camelford, has said that it will be in a black alert for the week owing to staff sickness and holiday shortages, combined with an increase in patient demand.

A black alert is declared when a capacity to meet expected demand is critically impaired for a period of time.

As a result, they are asking patients to only contact the surgery if absolutely necessary, and when making contact there will likely be delays in practice staff responding to the enquiry.

A spokesperson for the surgery said: “We are advising our patient we are in a black alert state this week with sickness/holiday shortages across all areas of staff and an increase in patient contacts. Please do not contact the surgery unless absolutely necessary.

“If you do contact the surgery please be aware there will be a longer wait than usual for a response. Thank you for your patience with our staff during this time.”