It is estimated that up to one in four people who use A&E and 999 services could have been treated more efficiently using other local services, such as pharmacies. During winter, this puts unnecessary pressure on already busy emergency services at a time when they need to be free to deal with serious conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes, serious accidents and breathing problems. With this in mind local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are backing this year’s Choose Well campaign, by asking the public to think twice before they dial 999.
The Choose Well campaign aims to educate and inform people about the different NHS services available to them. It promotes self-care and the use of local high-street pharmacy for common complaints such as coughs and colds, flu, stomach upsets and general aches and pains. Advice and information about a range of common winter health complaints, including how long symptoms will last and how to relieve symptoms is available from NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk You’ll find an easy to use symptom checker, can search for your local services and use the interactive First Aid toolkit.
Dr Gina Palumbo, Chair of East Riding of Yorkshire CCG, said: “We know that over the winter, the number of serious and life-threatening cases will go up if temperatures fall below 12 degrees Celsius. That’s people with breathing problems, strokes and heart-attacks caused by the cold weather. We are asking people to think carefully at such a busy time before calling 999, turning up at A&E or going to their GP when they don’t need to be there.
“It’s not just A&E and 999 teams who feel the pressure over winter. GPs and Neighbourhood Care Teams (NCTs) in the East Riding of Yorkshire are a vital part of the care needed by people who return home after having suffering a life-threatening emergency.”
Beverley Minor Injuries Unit is located at:
Beverley*
East Riding Community Hospital
Swinemoor Lane
HU17 0FA
Open 9 am – 5pm
(Monday to Friday)
01482 886600
Hull Minor Injury Units:
Bransholme Minor Injuries Unit Bransholme Health Centre Goodhart Road Hull
Open Monday – Friday 9am-8pm Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays - 9am-5pm Tel: (01482) 344665
Freedom Treatment Centre Within the Freedom Centre 97, Preston Road Hull
Monday – Friday 9am-5pm Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays - Closed Tel: (01482) 344580