Chesterfield Royal boss issues plea to THINK before dialling 999

There's a plea to people in North Derbyshire to think before dialling 999, as health services continue to face significant pressure.

A lot of staff are having to self-isolate, while patient numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.

Health bosses, therefore, are urging people with issues that aren't life-threatening to seek advice from a pharmacist, or call NHS 111.

Hal Spencer, Medical Director at Chesterfield Royal, said: "Lots of people held back from seeking healthcare, because they were naturally, and rightly, worried about coming into an environment where they might catch Covid.

"Obviously the NHS itself stood down an awful lot of routine non-emergency work during the pandemic, and so some of that is catching up with us a little bit.

"When something is life-threatening or an emergency, absolutely we want you to come to ED. But the clue's in the name, it's an emergency department. It's not meant to be for more minor things that could be dealt with by someone else.

"In the end, if people come inappropriately, it just put more more pressure on the system and means people who do need that emergency care aren't getting it as quickly as we'd like to give it."

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• chesterfield royal hospital
• nhs pressure
• north derbyshire