Emergency Departments braced for busiest weekend of the year
RECORDS show this weekend is likely to be the busiest of the year for Emergency Departments in Gloucestershire hospitals.
Health bosses are calling on people to think first about turning up at EDs at Cheltenham General Hospital, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and at county community hospitals.
Some injuries or illnesses are not always considered as an emergency by staff, with inappropriate use of EDs diverting medical teams away from providing more urgent emergency care.
Maggie Arnold, Nursing Director at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We know the majority of people do come to ED for the right reasons and for those experiencing a real emergency, choosing where you go for treatment is not an option.
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"However there are other patients whose condition would not be considered to be an emergency, who may not be aware they could be seen more quickly elsewhere.
"For every person who attends the ED with a minor injury or illness which could have been treated elsewhere, there are patients who need urgent medical attention which might be delayed.
"I would urge people to check our live waiting times and those of Minor Injury Units (MIUs) across the county."
The live waiting times webpage gives people a real opportunity to evaluate their options and make a choice that is right for them.
There are alternatives to the ED which will provide the right treatment quickly and easily.
To view waiting times online visit http://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/en/Wards-and-Departments/Departments/Accident-and-Emergency-Department/AE-Waits.
Comments
by Michael_AH
Sunday, January 06 2013, 12:22PM
“Gloucester and Cheltenham don't have Minor Injury Units though, perhaps if they did, less people would be visiting the A&E ED department”