Stay away from A&E

Reporter HEALTH bosses have urged the public to help ease the pressure on struggling A&E departments over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

People in the North East are being asked to think “pharmacy or GP first” ahead of what is expected to be an “extremely busy” weekend for the NHS.

Last year’s Easter weekend saw a plea from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after patients turned up to A&E from eating too many chocolate eggs.

People complaining of stomach problems from eating too many Easter eggs and Sunday roast went to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital because they were so full.

The trust which runs the hospital had to ask people to go to a pharmacy instead.

Now, ahead of this year’s bank holiday, the NHS is asking people with non-emergency health issues to call 111 to make a GP appointment or to visit a local pharmacy.

Although some GP practices and pharmacies are closed over Easter, the NHS has been working to ensure people across the region will be able to access a GP appointment or pharmacist should they need one.

Chris Gray, medical director for NHS England Cumbria and the North East, said: “By doing this, they will receive the most appropriate care and advice and, in most cases, will be seen quicker than if they go to an A&E department.

“Pharmacists can also provide instant, confidential advice and treatment for minor illnesses, without the need to make an appointment.

“This is a plea for people to use our NHS services responsibly to make sure that NHS staff, who work incredibly hard around the clock, can provide appropriate care to patients.

“Our A&E departments can get extremely busy over bank holidays and we want to ensure that patients who really need emergency care receive the quickest possible treatment they need, and that people who can be cared for elsewhere are not waiting in accident and emergency departments.”

People are also being asked to make sure that their medicine cabinet and first aid kits are well stocked before Easter arrives and that repeat prescriptions are collected well before the bank holiday weekend.

Many urgent care and walk-in centres will also be open. To find out which services are open and at what times, call 111.