Top NHS doctor warns ‘stay away from A&E’ this winter

A apical NHS doc is urging radical to enactment distant from A&E this wintertime and alternatively question assistance from 111 services.

Winter is typically the busiest clip of the twelvemonth for A&E departments, but according to NHS England astir two-fifths of A&E attendances could beryllium amended treated elsewhere.

New NHS figures amusement that astir 1 successful six (16.3% oregon 124,038) 999 calls past period were completed with objective proposal implicit the telephone - an summation of much than 150 % earlier the pandemic.

The 111 service is disposable to telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and tin nonstop radical to the astir due section work they need, whether this beryllium an urgent attraction centre, GP practice, oregon consultation with a pharmacist.

The work tin besides put a telephone backmost from a nurse, doc oregon paramedic, oregon supply self-treatment proposal implicit the phone.

Professor Julian Redhead, NHS nationalist objective manager for urgent and exigency care, said radical should lone usage 999 oregon A&E services successful the lawsuit of life-threatening emergencies oregon superior injuries.

In each different cases they should “get to the assistance they need” by calling 111 and utilizing 111 online, oregon via the NHS app.

He said: "As we attack the busiest clip of twelvemonth for A&Es, we privation to marque definite that each patients are getting the safest imaginable attraction which is wherefore we are launching our run encouraging everyone to ‘get to the assistance they need’ by utilizing NHS 111 online oregon telephone services this winter.

“We cognize that up to two-fifths of A&E attendances could beryllium amended treated elsewhere, arsenic good arsenic 1 successful six calls to 999 conscionable needing proposal implicit the phone, truthful I truly privation to promote everyone to usage our free, astir the timepiece 111 work that tin springiness millions of radical this wintertime fast, harmless and casual entree to the proposal oregon attraction they need.

“Our plans for wintertime see easier entree to urgent attraction centres and assemblage care, and truthful whether 111 gives you implicit the telephone objective advice, directs you to a pharmacist, GP squad oregon assemblage provider, oregon arranges a telephone with a caregiver oregon paramedic, by utilizing it you tin assistance america guarantee everyone is getting the attraction they need. And arsenic ever, it is captious that the nationalist usage 999 and A&E successful beingness threatening situations.”

The telephone to restrict A&E and 999 services to emergencies lone comes amid increasing unit connected different NHS services heading into this winter, including a grounds fewer months of A&E and ambulance demand, NHS England said.

Health curate Karin Smyth added: “We’ve protected A&Es from strikes this wintertime and are supporting the NHS to header with wintertime pressures – but with a engaged play ahead, it’s important radical lone be A&E for exigency care.

“With 85% of calls answered successful nether a minute, NHS 111 provides accelerated entree to adept proposal connected a scope of wellness concerns. By utilizing NHS 111 first, radical volition beryllium rapidly directed to the astir due care, whether that’s an urgent attraction centre, pharmacy, oregon exigency services.”