People in Teesside with minor illnesses urged not to go to A&E
Health bosses say if it's not life-threatening, then think pharmacist, GP or 111
Health bosses in Teesside say the accident and emergency department in Middlesbrough should be for life-threatening injuries - not minor illnesses.
People are being urged to think pharmacist, GP or 111 if they have things like a cough, cold or a sore throat over the festive period.
Amy Oxley, deputy chief nurse at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would ask people to try and care for themselves at home using over the counter medications from the pharmacist, certainly seeing their GP if they're concerned at all that they may need something different to what they can buy at the pharmacist.
"But clearly if patients are having severe breathing difficulty, or chest pains, or have accidents that they need that support then of course, we'd encourage people to come to the hospital and get that care.
"People who come into A&E, we do always prioritise them according to their needs, so that might mean that patients that come who don't necessarily need to be in the accident and emergency department, they might have an extremely long wait because patient who are sicker will get that priority care.
"It's really important that where we can we care for those who are vulnerable and try and support them ahead of adverse weather, if we can try and make sure that they have food provision, repeat prescriptions and are stocked up on over-the-counter remedies, that would mean they don't have to take the journey to the shop which may cause them to have a slip, trip or a fall.
"We absolutely would ask our visitors for our patients not to come to the hospital if they have had cold or cough symptoms or diarrhoea or vomiting in the previous 24 hours. We would ask you to avoid coming into the hospital because we do see that's often how infections spread."
Choose the right NHS service
- If your need is not life threatening, do not go into A&E without first seeking advice from NHS 111, a pharmacist or your GP.
- For minor illnesses or minor injuries go to your nearest urgent treatment centre.
- For urgent dental advice call 0300 123 1933.
- Can’t get an urgent appointment with your South Tees GP? Ask them to make you an evening or weekend appointment with South Tees Access Response (STAR) GP hubs or call 111.
The accident and emergency department
South Tees NHS Foundation Trust say A&E at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This includes:
- loss of consciousness
- acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
- stroke
- major trauma such as a road traffic accident