For emergency use only
Plea from hospital after steady surge of people going to A&E
HILLINGDON Hospital is pleading with patients to think twice before going to A&E this winter, after £1.7million of the Trust’s budget was “wasted” last year.
The hospital is preparing in advance for the seasonal spike in hospital admissions by appealing for patients to use alternative sources of treatment before A&E, which is meant for lifethreatening emergencies only.
Over
the
past
12 months, there has seen a steady increase in people attending A&E with traditionally quieter months, July and August, registering increases of 6.4 and eight per cent.
Hillingdon Hospital’s A&E department treated 56,000 patients last year, with each patient visit costing around £150, excluding the considerably more expensive cost of arriving by ambulance.
Jas Johal, Hillingdon A&E consultant, said: “Patients who use A&E when they could get more appropriate care somewhere else are taking staff away from life-threatening cases.
“Please help us to help those that need it most by getting care in the right place.”
Analysis at Hillingdon shows around 20 per cent of those visiting A&E last year could have been treated by their GP or by a pharmacist for minor ailments.
Overall, the Trust’s A&E department saw approximately 11,200 people last year who could have been better dealt with by another NHS service.
This accounted for around £1.7 million of the Trust’s budget and could have paid for an additional 20-30 doctors and nurses.
Patients can get more information by visiting rightcare4u.org.uk.