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Press release – 21February 2013

2013-24

Herefordshire residents urged to consider alternatives to A&E

Wye Valley NHS Trust is advising Herefordshire residents ‘not to visit A&E unless it’s an emergency’, as its services continue to experience an increase in winter pressure.

Winter pressures happen every year, so it should come as no surprise that the County Hospital and its A&E department, along with other trusts, are experiencing an increase in pressure at this time.

With a busy weekend ahead the County Hospital’s A&E department would like to remind people that 999 and A&E services are for seriously ill people and emergencies only.

The A&E department is not there to treat people with minor cuts, colds, sprains or stomach upsets which could be treated more quickly elsewhere.

Jane Griffin, Lead A&E Nurse at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said “We are here 24 hours a day to treat seriously ill and injured patients and we are urging people with minor ailments and injuries to consider all other options available instead of attending the A&E department.”

Jan Reynolds Service Unit Director, said: “We are experiencing a continued increase in demand on our services and we have put in place action plans to ensure that patient safety is maintained”.

“This may mean that on occasion patients may experience some delay in receipt of care and that services are delivered in a slightly different way. Our priority is to maintain patient safety”.

If you have a minor injury or ailment use alternatives to A&E, such as:

  • A visit to their local GP
  • A visit to their local pharmacy for advice
  • Visiting a Minor Injury Unit (visit website for opening times)
  • Visiting the Walk-in Centre at ASDA (preferably using the out of hours number for quick over-the-phone advice – 0330 123 9309)

Details of health services and help available for various ailments can be found at on line from NHS Choices and from NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For more information on winter health, go to:

  • Wye Valley NHS Trust is the first integrated provider of hospital, community and adult social care services in the NHS in England. The Trust exists to improve the wellbeing, independence and health of the people we serve. We are the leading provider of health and social care in Herefordshire. By combining hospital, community and adult social care services, we can make good our promise to deliver a quality of care we would want for ourselves, our families and our friends.
  • With an estimated annual turnover of around £160million, we employ around 3000 plus staff. As the first integrated provider of acute, community and social care in England, we aim to build new relationships between our staff, patients, service users and their carers, and with the wider community.

For further information please contact:
John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928 or Fiona Gurney, Communications Assistant 01432 355444 ext. 5105.

A provider of health and social care