Get the best use of your health service urges local NHS

Patients and the public in South Staffordshire are being urged to get the best use of their local NHS by using the many alternatives to Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) to receive emergency care and treatment.

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) has launched a campaign this week to highlight to local residents the range of alternative health care services that can be used instead of A&E to reduce the number of people inappropriately using their A&E services.

Your local pharmacy could be a first port of call as they are professionally qualified to advise on the treatment of minor ailments as well as dispensing drugs prescribed by your doctor.

Also your local Minor Injury Unit can treat a wide variety of problems including cuts, grazes, dog bites, sprains and strains, minor head injuries and minor burns.

In addition, your GP surgery deals with the management of patients with illnesses such as chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma as well as the general management of patients who are terminally ill. They also operate a GP Out-of-Hours Service between 18:30 and 08:00 every day including weekends and banks holidays.

If you call your GP out-of-hours needing urgent medical advice or assistance your call will be responded to by a specially trained professional who will assess you and offer a range of health support.

NHS Direct is also a 24 hour health and information service providing confidential information on 0845 46 47 – website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk .

Malcolm Thomson, Programme Manager (Care Closer to Home) said: “It is important that patients and their families get the best from their local health services and know that A&E is not the first or best option for a high proportion of health problems. Pharmacists, GPs – in and out-of-hours services, Minor Injury Unit and NHS Direct are ideal alternatives in many cases.

“We know that one in three people who visit A&E could receive treatment more appropriately elsewhere leaving the department for emergency situations. A&E is there to treat people with serious injuries and those in need of emergency treatment and people can save themselves time by trying other NHS services first and give A&E the time to concentrate on those needing emergency treatment.”

Malcolm added: “We want people to prepare now for winter and the additional illnesses that it brings which is why we have launched this campaign providing people with information about the real alternatives to ensure that get the best use of the local NHS and receive the right treatment at the right place and at the right time.”