‘Unprecedented demand’ and new IT system put strain on hospital’s A&E
THE NHS has urged people living in north-east Hampshire and northwest Surrey to consider whether alternative health services can meet their needs after “unprecedented demand” has put pressure on the accident and emergency department at Frimley Park Hospital.
People with sprains and strains, suspected broken limbs or minor head injuries are being signposted towards a minor injury unit in Bracknell, while anyone with mild illness has been advised to visit their GP, go to a pharmacy or call 111.
The appeal has been made after the hospital reported unprecedented numbers of patients, and has said many of those arriving could have received the care or treatment they needed without visiting A&E.
The impact of the unexpected increase in patients is causing additional challenges as the hospital introduced a new electronic patient record (EPR) system at the weekend. Dr Tim Ho, medical director at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The EPR system is a really exciting development for Frimley Health that will mean safer, better and much smoother care for our patients. It is replacing some 260 separate data systems and paper records.
“We anticipated that to make sure we still provide patients with safe, high-quality care our teams may be a little slower than usual while they get used to the new system, and so we deliberately chose to introduce it in the summer as this is when we historically see fewer patients in our emergency departments.
“This unprecedented demand is therefore putting additional pressure on our service and clinical teams, and is inevitably impacting on the time patients have to wait to be treated.”
Dr Huw Thomas, clinical chairman of NHS Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “There are many ways to access good healthcare across our community – from pharmacies to minor injuries units, GPs and NHS 111.
“These should be everyone’s first port of call for the best care unless they have serious and lifethreatening injuries.”
Anyone wishing to contact the 111 service can do so by dialling the number on their phone or visiting the service online. The Minor Injury Unit in Bracknell is at Brants Bridge, and is open from 8am to 8pm every day of the week.
Patients can also find out more information on where to go when feeling unwell at the Frimley Health and Care website.
Those suffering from a life-threatening condition should still dial 999 or attend A&E.