20 April 2011
As the nation gears up to enjoy a series of well deserved public holidays, hospitals can anticipate seeing more people coming through the doors of their A&E (accident and emergency) departments because of DIY accidents, burns from BBQs and alcohol-related injuries. And, if the weather is good, there might be cases of people with sunburn, heatstroke or dehydration.
However, alongside the majority who genuinely require the attention of the A&E department there are a significant number who are mildly unwell, have a minor cut or have some other everyday ailment.
That's why doctors at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals are once again supporting the national NHS 'Choose Well' campaign - which encourages people to find the most appropriate NHS service to get their advice and treatment as quickly as possible.
Dr Martin Stockwell is the Trust's Deputy Medical Director. He said: "We find that many of the people that come to A&E do not need to be seen at hospital and could be getting the right care faster somewhere else, for instance from their GP's out of hours service or even a pharmacist in their local chemist.
"People might not be aware of the wide range of different services available, but there are many more options than just A&E. The challenge is ensuring the public are aware of the alternatives and what kind of care they offer.
"However, if we succeed in getting the message across, not only will patients who choose the most appropriate service be seen more promptly, but it also frees up A&E for people who do have critical or life-threatening conditions."
Alternatives to visiting A&E:
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NHS Choices - visit www.nhs.uk and search for information on medical symptoms and conditions and to find local NHS services;
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NHS Direct - call 0845 4647 for absolutely any health questions, around the clock, and to find local NHS services;
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Self-care - a lot of illnesses can be treated in your home by using over the counter medicine and getting plenty of rest;
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Pharmacist - for advice on common summer illnesses, and the best medicines to treat them: pharmacists are qualified experts and you do not need an appointment;
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NHS walk-in centres - for treatment of minor illnesses or injuries, without an appointment;
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GP out of hours service - for medical advice, examinations and prescriptions for illnesses you just can't shake off.
Around 140,000 patients attended the Trust's A&E departments last year, including the eye casualty at Sutton Hospital. That's almost than 12,000 people a month.
For more information about the 'Choose Well' campaign and the different services available, visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/choosewell.
