NHS winter warning as North East health bosses urge the public to 'do your bit' ahead of busiest time of the year
by Sam Volpe · ChronicleLive"Do your bit."
That's the message for the general public from NHS bosses as they approach the busiest time of the year for heatlh services amid a so-called "tidal wave" of flu cases. A leading hospital figure said it was vital for people to consider whether heading to A&E or calling 999 was the best thing for their issue - and to instead think about options such as visiting a pharmacist or using the NHS 111 service either online or over the phone.
Ken Bremner is chief executive of the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust and also chairs the North East and North Cumbria provider collaborative - through which our area's hospital trusts and ambulance service work more closely together.
Ken said: "If you need healthcare, please do come forward - the NHS is here to help you. But please bear in mind that if you come to A&E with something that's not serious, we may direct you to a more suitable service so busy staff can focus on people with the most urgent needs.
"We all rely on health services, and there are things we can all do to help. If you need medical care and it's not life-threatening, think about NHS 111 online, your local pharmacy or your GP practice first."
The wider NHS is facing huge pressures from winter bugs such as fllu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and norovirus leading to hundreds of people in hospital. The festive period often also brings an increased risk of issues such as slips and falls due to poor weather, too.
NHS services such as the "hospital at home" programme which sees "virtual wards" set up so some patients, such as those with frailty issues or some cardiovascular conditions, can be looked after at home - closely monitored - rather than in a hospital bed are among the ways the health service is trying to deal with huge demand. There has also been a national £1.2m investment in "acute respiratory illness hubs" to help look after people with those kind of illness.
Dr Robin Hudson, a local GP and medical director at North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: "Our teams work incredibly hard all year round, especially in winter when we see more respiratory infections, as well as slips, trips and falls in bad weather. We've also seen a big increase in norovirus in the last few weeks.
"There's a huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes that most patients don't see. That includes improving front-of-house arrangements at A&Es so patients are directed to the best service for their needs, which often isn't an emergency service. It also means investing in community services so more people can get the care they need without going to hospital."
There are also staff in A&Es around the regiojn who are able to direct patients to the best service for them in non-emergency cases, but hospital chiefs are also keen to emphasise that people shouldn't be afraid to head to an emergency department if that is the type of care they need.
Anyone needing urgent mental health support can call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or visit www.nhs.uk for details of other services. Details of local pharmacy services and opening times are also available from the NHS website. GP practices now offer a range of ways to book appointments including online or via the NHS app.
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