Health chiefs in A&E warning

Professor Matthew Makin, Medical Director at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

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DOCTORS are encouraging Oldhamers to "Choose Well" over the Bank Holiday and only use the appropriate health service for their condition ­- including only attending accident and emergency in an emergency.

The appeal has been issued by GPs and the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield General Hospital in Bury.

Doctors have warned the number of people attending A&E departments run by the trust remains high, with staff seeing cases which could be treated elsewhere in the community, such as by a pharmacist, increasing waiting times and preventing people with genuine emergencies from being seen in the quickest possible time.

Professor Matt Makin, medical director at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "By avoiding A&E and choosing the right service this Bank Holiday, patients will get the best treatment in the shortest time, whilst keeping emergency health services for life-threatening conditions.

"Our A&E and urgent care doctors, nurses and staff are working incredibly hard and still seeing great numbers of patients day in day out.

"Despite being out of winter and into spring there is no sign of a lull and we still have lots of patients in beds, requiring treatment or waiting to be discharged from hospital, which adds to the pressure.

"A&E is still the place to come if you need urgent treatment such as for a head injury, if have fallen badly or if you are having breathing difficulties.

"However, we are still seeing lots of people with less serious conditions and minor complaints such as alcohol intoxication, back pain, migraines and headaches, ear problems, and sore throats.

"Only those people who are extremely unwell and in need urgent care and emergency medical attention should come to A&E where we will provide the best possible care.

"Ordering and taking care of any repeat prescriptions, having a well-stocked medicine cabinet and being aware of opening times and contact details for local pharmacies will help over the bank holiday period."

People who become ill over the Bank Holiday are advised to try self-care in the first instance, for example if they have a cold or an ear infection.

If people become concerned and think they might need medication they should then seek advice from a pharmacist, or if they are really worried then they can go to the NHS Choices website (nhs.uk) or call 111 where they will be asked questions to assess their symptoms and be directed to the best medical care for them, leaving emergency A&E doctors to focus their attention on seriously ill emergency patients.

A full list of opening hours for pharmacies and out of hours GP services in Oldham, including phone numbers and addresses, is available at www.pat.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/choose-well.htm.