'Please pick up patients if they're well enough to go home'

Hospitals across Devon say they’re seeing a rise in people with flu or the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

NHS bosses are urging those with symptoms to try and away from medical centres - unless an emergency.

Kate Lissett, chief medical officer at Torbay Hospital, warns that having to isolate patients has a knock-on impact: "The last thing you want to do in hospital is be next to someone who's got an infectious illness so we need to keep those people isolated which reduces the beds that we can use for other people - and that in turn has an impact on how quickly we can move people through our emergency department."

Recently the NHS in Devon warned it was experiencing significant pressures on health services across the county and 'partners across Devon’s health and social care system have been working hard to take action to mitigate the disruption during a period of winter pressures, including increased attendances at local Emergency Departments with people with minor ailments'.

Dr Peter Collins, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “It’s vital that those who need medical help come forward as they usually would – using 999 and A&E in life threatening emergencies and 111 online for everything else, alongside their GP practices and pharmacies.

“Staff in our Devon hospitals are working hard to treat people as quickly and safely as possible, but there are things local people can do to help ease pressures and ensure that people with the most urgent needs can be cared for quickly.

“We are seeing increased numbers of people attending for minor injuries and ailments that can be quickly and easily treated elsewhere, so please choose the right service for your needs and only go to ED in an emergency.”

There's more advice from NHS Devon here

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