Go to your GP – not AE

HEALTH chiefs at Warrington are urging people not to turn up at A&E with problems that could be dealt with by a GP or other healthcare service.
NHS Warrington CCG says people can help by staying away from hospital at a time when local emergency services and A&E staff are facing one of the busiest starts to a year they have ever had.
CCG clinical chief officer and local GP Dr Andy Davies (pictured) said: “Every year A&E doctors and nurses see thousands of patients with problems that could be better dealt with by their GP or other health professional. We’re asking people to use the NHS sensibly and consider the most
appropriate option whenever possible”.
In winter the number of serious and life-threatening cases increases – with more people with breathing problems, strokes and heart-attacks caused by the cold weather.
So people calling 999 or turning up at A&E when they could have been seen by their GP cause problems.
Dr Davies said: “There have been unprecedented levels of demand on emergency services across the entire country, with especially high numbers of frail, elderly patients who are extremely ill.
“Keep an eye on friends, family and neighbours often – seeking treatment sooner rather than later can avoid a hospital admission altogether.
“There’s much more to the NHS than A&E departments and ambulances – there’s a whole range of services that can treat you just as well and in most cases quicker than A&E.”