Members of the public are being urged to ‘choose well’ during the typically busy winter period as the number of people attending Accident and Emergency Departments and Acute Medical Units (AMU) continues to grow and put pressure on the NHS.

We are continuing to see an increased attendance and ambulance arrivals in our Emergency Departments and it’s been similar across the whole region.

When this happens, every hospital in the surrounding area is in the same position which means that we are unable to divert ambulances as there are no alternative options. This means that the initial wait to be seen increases, along with the length of time for a bed to become available.

Our clinical and nursing teams at Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospitals are working tirelessly to deal with the increased demand. To help relieve the pressure further, we’ve been asking people to think twice as to whether they really need to go to A&E/AMU, or if they would get more appropriate treatment at another NHS facility.

Many people forget that the NHS offers many more ways for people to get the right treatment. We are urging locals to remember that:

• We must keep our Emergency Departments for those that really need them and are suffering with life-threatening and emergency conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes, breathing problems and serious accidents.
• Walk-in centres can treat minor accidents such as cuts, sprains and rashes that don’t require emergency treatment. You will still be seen and treated by a doctor or nurse, with no appointment required.
• Pharmacies can help give advice and over the counter remedies for diarrhoea, minor infections, headaches, coughs and colds.
• NHS 111 can be called for urgent medical help or advice, if it’s not a life-threatening situation.

Dr Govindan Raghuraman, associate medical director at HeartlandsHospital, said: “It becomes a problem when patients use their local A&E services instead of more suitable alternatives.  A&E departments are for life-threatening and emergency conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes, breathing problems and serious accidents.

“There are a wide range of facilities that offer out-of-hours support and treatment that is available across the region, aside from the emergency department at the Hospital. If your condition is not a 999 emergency but you need medical help fast, call NHS 111, and they will advise you as where is the best place to go.

“We’re asking people to choose well before deciding whether A&E is really the best place for their condition.”

Choosing the right NHS service will not only help ease the pressure on hospitals in the region, but may also result in quicker treatment.

For more information visit http://choosewellmidlands.nhs.uk/