Plea to patients over busy A&E
THE Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has urged residents to use the correct services after announcing “severe pressures” on its emergency department.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said the Wonford Emergency Department was “exceptionally busy”, with residents suffering long waits to be seen by staff.
The trust urged residents to only call 999 and attend the Emergency Department in a medical emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. If urgent care is not needed, residents were told to call 111 or seek support online, or see their local pharmacist for pain relief/minor ailments.
Residents were also encourage to use the HANDi Paediatric app for advice about common childhood illnesses and the NHS app to check symptoms, book GP appointments and order repeat prescriptions.
The trust have a walk-in centre in the city centre on Sidwell Street. It is closed on Mondays and Thursdays, but is open 8am-8pm during the rest of the week.
Tracey Reeves, Director of Nursing – Eastern services at the Royal Devon, said: “We are doing everything we can to see people as quickly as possible and we ask that you please help us to help you. Choosing the right service when you are unwell or injured helps you to get the care you need as soon as possible, and it also reduces pressure on our emergency services, freeing them up to help those who need it most. We’re really grateful to our patients for understanding the pressures we’re under and we’d like to thank them for continuing to be polite, patient and respectful towards us – kindness makes such a difference.”
■ Rapid tests to check whether infections are caused by bacteria or viruses – and whether they need antibiotics – are to be trialled at GP surgeries in the South West.
The pilot project, led by the University of Bristol, will investigate whether testing patients at the point they turn up with symptoms of a respiratory infection could cut the number of antibiotic prescriptions given out. The swab tests can detect multiple viruses and some bacteria, with results available in as little as 45 minutes.
At present, medics can sometimes give out antibiotics unnecessarily because it is not clear whether an infection is caused by bacteria (which antibiotics can treat) or viruses (for which they are ineffective). The new trial hopes to overcome this by giving rapid results so prescriptions can be given more accurately.