10 December 2008
Doctors at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are calling on local people to only visit its A&E departments if they have a genuine emergency or accident, because of intense pressure on its services.
Medical Director Dr Jonathan Kwan said the two A&E departments are extremely busy at the moment following the onset of winter.
Dr Kwan said: "With winter upon us, we venture into a time when hospitals up and down the country face greater pressures caused by the cold weather. Over the next few months we will see more people suffering from bronchitis, asthma and other conditions that can get worse as a result of the change in temperature. As you can imagine, this has a big impact on the majority of our services, especially A&E.
"It would help us immensely if people continued to use our A&E services responsibly, allowing us to concentrate our staff and resources on patients who urgently need emergency services.
"Most people using A&E genuinely need its services and are suffering a life threatening or real emergency to their health. However, there are also people who present themselves to A&E because they are feeling mildly unwell, have a cough, cold, a minor cut or other everyday ailments. If you are suffering with these symptoms then you should see your GP or contact your local GP out-of-hours service."
Each month over 10,000 patients attend the A&E department at St Helier and Epsom hospitals and close to one in five needs to be admitted to a ward. Over the last week the two A&Es have treated almost 2,700 patients.
Dr Kwan added: "Hospital A&E services are designed for patients with emergency medical or surgical problems, or who have been involved in accidents. If the public do their bit and heed the advice or go through their GP, it will make a huge difference to ease the pressure. It will also further reduce the time that people have to wait to be seen and treated."
Dr Ruth Milton, Director of Public Health for Surrey said: "GPs and pharmacists can help with most minor health issues so they should always be the first port of call. Anyone who isn't sure where they should seek help can contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647."
Doctors are urging local people to use the simple guide below to help them get the right treatment for their illness.
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Self-care: a well stocked medicine cabinet will help you with many common illnesses;
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Pharmacist: from sprains to stomach upsets, your local pharmacist is qualified to give expert advice without an appointment;
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NHS Direct: call 24 hours a day on 0845 4647 for free expert health advice and reassurance;
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NHS Direct online: visit NHS Direct online for health advice and information for you and your family;
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NHS walk-in centre: see an experienced nurse for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses, seven days a week;
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GP's surgery: for jabs, prescriptions, medical advice and care, call for an appointment with your GP or practice nurse;
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A&E/999: call 999 or visit A&E for emergencies such as loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, serious accidents or loss of blood.
Examples of when A&E should not be used include:
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Coughs and colds - most people would be best just to stay at home or see their local pharmacist;
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Old injuries or joint problems - are best seen by your GP, at least initially;
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Queries about medication - these are best dealt with by your GP;
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Toothache - you need to be seen by a dentist. Please use NHS Direct to assess you needs;
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Trying to use A&E to get a 'second opinion' rather than using the GP service;
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Relatives of patients who book in because they might as well as they are waiting anyway;
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Patients who book in to A&E because they can't get a GP appointment until the next day.
