WARRINGTON Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department staff is urging people to enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations safely and to use emergency health services sensibly.
The festive season is a time when people enjoy extra drinking and eating but excess alcohol and drug incidents lead to extra pressure on the emergency services.
Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s A&E sees around 1,500 patients a week. During the festive season this figure usually increases by a further 15% (175), leading to further pressures on staff and putting seriously ill patients at additional risk.
Dr Anne Robinson, Consultant on A&E says: “Our doors are always open for those with serious injuries or illnesses. With the Christmas and New Year holiday period coming up we would ask everyone to take a moment to think whether they really need to come to this department or whether they could get treatment in a more appropriate way. As the name of our department suggests we are here for emergencies rather than for treating very minor injuries or ailments.”
The Trust is supporting the Choose Well campaign which aims to help people make the right choice about where to go for advice and treatment and that the Accident and Emergency department is just that and not for toothaches, earaches and stubbed toes. The campaign uses a colour coded thermometer which provides guidance on which service should be used and when.
There are a number of ways people can help, or alternative services they can access, to ease pressures on the hospital’s emergency services over Christmas and New Year.
A confidential health helpline available 24 hours a day, NHS Direct provides advice about different health conditions or ailments. Call 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
If you go on the NHS Choices on www.nhs.uk – you can enter your postcode to find your nearest GP and the surgeries opening times over Christmas.
Not registered with a GP? Then call Cheshire Health Agency on 0118 918 3333 who will advise you on your closest GP surgery.
When GP surgeries are closed, patients Warrington can contact their GP out of hours service for emergency advice on 01925 650999.
For full details of the Choose Well campaign CLICK HERE
WARRINGTON Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department staff is urging
people to enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations safely and to use
emergency health services sensibly.
Choose well this Christmas
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
