Bosses ask for support to help ease A&E pressure
such as those at Sunderland Royal Hospital and South TynesideDistrictHospitaland 999 services are already extremely busy due to the colder weather, which is affecting people with long-term health conditions, children and the over 65s in particular.
Peoplearebeingreminded that emergency departments and 999 should only be used if someoneisinimmediateneed of critical or life-saving care. In other cases of minor injuriesandillnesses,alternatives should be used.
Dr Sean Fenwick, Director of Operations for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are seeing increasing numbers of very ill patients and, unfortunately, large numbers of people are still attending our emergency departments who should be using other services as they do not require urgent treatment.
“We are asking everyone in our local communities to please think first and not automatically turn up at our emergency departments, which will help us to focus attention as quickly as possible on those most in need of care and treatment.”
There are a wealth of NHS services people can use to treat less serious injuries and illnesses:
*If you start to feel unwell, do not to wait until you get worse but instead ask a pharmacistforexpertconfidential adviceorvisitwww.nhs.ukfor advice about where to get the right treatment.
Many ailments can be treated using over-the- counter medicines and expert advice from a pharmacist. You are urged to ‘talk before you walk’
*GPs can deal with a range of conditions, with out-ofhoursappointmentsavailable
*Urgent care treatment centresofferhigh-qualitycare for a broad range of problems, oftenwithmuchshorterwaits
Ifyouhaveanurgenthealth need that cannot wait, but are not sure if you should go to the emergency department, call NHS111(available24/7)orgoto www.111.nhs.uk