STAFF at Warrington Hospital are urging the public not to use the Accident and Emergency department unless absolutely necessary.
A big increase in the number of patients attending A&E following the Easter holiday period has seen a rise in acutely ill patients needing hospital admission and care on the wards.
The hospital cared for around 280 emergency patients yesterday (Monday) compared with an average of around 220.
This has led for longer waits for patients with non-urgent conditions.
Local people are being asked to only use A&E for real emergencies and serious injuries and illness and to use their GP or local pharmacists for more routine illness and injury.
A spokesman for Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Monday saw large numbers of patients presenting at A&E – almost a quarter more than we would typically see.
“We often find that after a holiday period the hospitals get busier as people have put off getting treatment for illness which has got worse.
“Our staff have been superb in making sure these large numbers of very poorly patients are seen and given beds as soon as is possible.
“However, that does mean that patients with minor ailments in A&E will not be seen quickly and we’re asking those people to always use their local pharmacy services and GPs instead of coming directly to us.”
STAFF at Warrington Hospital are urging the public not to use the Accident and Emergency department unless absolutely necessary.
Hospital appeals after surge of patients
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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.
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As it’s been ‘often’ found that after a holiday period there is an increase in people attending A&E why do the hospital management not prepare for this with extra staff etc? They recommend that the public use pharmacists or their own GP’s for other than ‘serious illnesses or injuries’ – does this mean that they assume that the general public are all qualified to diagnose ‘serious illnesses or injuries? As it can take weeks to get a Doctor’s appointment most people are already going first to the Chemists to either self- treat or seek advice from a pharmacist for ‘non serious’ complaints. There can’t be many people who would choose to go to A&E and endure the excessive waiting times but unfortunately pharmacists don’t have access to X-ray , scanning machines or the like and I’ve yet to come across a ‘stitch as you wait service’ in any chemists shop. I think it would be more constructive for Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to address the lack of adequate services and poor planning rather than attempt to park the blame on the general public.