Kentish Express Ashford & District
Appeal to stay away from A&E
Heatwave puts staff under pressure
Health chiefs are urging non-emergency patients NOT to go to A&E after this week’s heatwave saw a significant rise in casualties seeking treatment.
Patients at the William Harvey Hospital reported staff struggling to cope with the extra admissions on Tuesday as temperatures soared above 30C.
Eight-months pregnant Jodie Pantrey said A&E was so overcrowded when she took her 17-month-old son to the hospital at 11.30pm that night she and many others were forced to sit on the floor.
The East Kent NHS Trust which runs the hospital said there had been a 5% rise in the number of patients visiting the accident and emergency department on Tuesday and appealed for non-emergency cases to stay away.
Health bosses have warned non-emergency patients NOT to go to A&E after a spike in casualties during the heatwave this week.
Patients at the William Harvey Hospital reported seeing staff struggling to cope with the extra admissions, which left eightmonths pregnant Jodie Pantrey forced to sit on the floor.
On Facebook she reported having to take her 17-month-old son to hospital at 11.30pm on Tuesday.
She wrote that conditions were so cramped that she was forced to sit on the floor, along with dozens of others.
Meanwhile on the hospital’s Facebook page Christine Ustabas said she was waiting in a “boiling hot” ward for her small operation, but praised the staff working in the heat. She posted: “I wish I could buy them all an ice lolly.”
The East Kent NHS Trust which runs the hospital said it noticed a 5% rise in the number of patients visiting the accident and emergency department on Tuesday, when temperatures soared to over 30C.
A spokesman for the trust said that they could not establish whether rise in admissions was down to heat-related conditions, but said the rise in numbers was 5% higher than had been expected.
The spokesman said: “A&E provides a vital service for people in Ashford and we need to make sure that it is saved for serious accidents, illnesses and emergen- cies. You never know when you or your family will need this life saving service. Call 999 or visit A&E if you or your loved ones are unconscious, in a confused state, have fits which do not stop, have severe chest pain, breathing difficulties or severe bleeding.
“For illnesses and injuries which are not emergencies, please call your GP surgery first or NHS 111. Outside of normal surgery hours you can still phone your GP, but you will usually be directed to an out-of-hours service.
“Minor Injury Units and Walk- in Centres open late, until 8pm or 9pm. Minor Injury Units, for example, can treat burns, sprains and cuts.”
The trust has advised people to take precautions during any spells of hot weather this summer, and to look out for vulnerable people such as the elderly, young children, babies, and those with serious illnesses.