Don’t head to hospital if you’ve got earache
Minor ailments can be treated elsewhere
NHS Forth Valley is again urging people to make use of GP, pharmacy and minor injuries services to avoid putting extra pressure on the busy emergency department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital over the festive season.
Despite frequent appeals to seek help from other sources, people still regularly attend the emergency department with coughs and colds, earache, toothache, constipation and chronic ailments such as back pain.
Figures from ISD Scotland for the week starting November 17, 2019, show 85.3 per cent of the 1300 patients to attend Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s emergency department were seen withing the four-hour target time laid down by the Scottish Government. No fewer than 191 had to wait more than four hours to be dealt with by medical or nursing staff.
NHS FV’s medical director Andrew Murray, said: “Please think carefully before going to the Emergency Department at FVRH, where we can sometimes see more than 200 patients a day. Seeking advice elsewhere for minor, non-urgent health problems ensures that people who are really unwell can be seen more speedily. It is also worth remembering that anyone who presents with a serious illness or injury will always be given priority so those with less serious issues may face longer waits.”
The dedicated nurse-led Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Stirling Health and Care Village will remain open every day over the festive period from 9am until 9pm.
It can treat adults and children over the age of one for cuts and grazes, minor burns, sprains and strains. It can also help with minor eye and ear injuries and X-ray and treat broken bones including broken ankles and wrists.
A small number of pharmacists in Forth Valley will be open for short periods of time on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and January 2. Details are available on the Winter Zone of NHS Forth Valley’s website www. nhsforthvalley.com/winter.
Under a scheme called Pharmacy First, all chemists in Forth Valley are now able to provide free treatment for a range of common conditions without a GP prescription. These include urine infections, conjunctivitis, skin conditions (such as eczema, dermatitis and reactions to insect bites) skin infections (such as cellulitis and impetigo) and thrush.
GP practices will be open as normal on December 23, 24 and and 27 and December 30, 31 and January 3. They will only be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day and January 2.
Anyone who is concerned about their symptoms and don’t feel they can wait until their GP surgery re-opens should call NHS 24 free on 111 for advice. Information and advice on many health conditions can also be accessed free on 0800 22 44 88.
Opticians across Forth Valley can provide advice and support for a wide range of eye conditions such as blurred vision and eye infections. They can treat and advise on the management of many eye conditions or refer directly to hospital if the problem is more serious.
For more winter health information and advice visit www.nhsforthvalley.com/ winter.