Keep A&E free for those who really need urgent and emergency care this bank holiday

Professor Matthew Makin, Medical Director at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Doctors at local A&Es run by The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are joining with their GP primary care colleagues in asking the public to Choose Well and use the right health service for their needs over the bank holiday.

One of the key messages is that A&E departments need to be kept free for those who really need urgent and emergency care.

People with less serious conditions should try to self-care, for example if they have a cold or ear infection, and/or seek advice from a pharmacist, leaving emergency A&E doctors to focus their attention on seriously ill emergency patients.

A full list of opening hours for pharmacies and out of hours GP services in North Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale and Bury, including phone numbers and addresses, is available on the Trust website http://www.pat.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/choose-well.htm

Attendances and demand at all three A&E departments run by The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust remain particularly high. Amongst those attendances, A&E emergency doctors are seeing cases which could be treated elsewhere in the community such as by a pharmacist. This could delay people with genuine emergencies from being seen in the quickest possible time and increased waiting times for others.

By avoiding A&E and choosing the right service this bank holiday, patients will get the best treatment in the shortest time, whilst keeping emergency health services available for emergencies and life-threatening conditions.

People with minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, sore throats and upset stomachs should try to care for themselves in the first instance and then failing that seek advice from a local pharmacist. Most of the time a pharmacist will be able offer people an over the counter remedy to their ailment.

Keeping warm, eating well and being prepared by stocking up your medicine cabinet and making sure you have enough stock of medicines to last through the bank holiday periods can also help people to stay well.

Professor Matt Makin, Medical Director at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
"Our A&E and urgent care doctors, nurses and staff are working incredibly hard and still seeing great numbers of patients day in day out. Despite being out of winter and into spring there is no sign of a lull and we still have lots of patients in beds either requiring treatment or waiting to be discharged from hospital, which adds to the pressure.

“A&E is still the place to come if you need urgent treatment. However, we are still seeing lots of people with less serious conditions and minor complaints.

Only those people who are extremely unwell and in need urgent care and emergency medical attention should come to A&E where we will provide the best possible care. Ordering and taking care of any repeat prescriptions, having a well-stocked medicine cabinet and being aware of opening times and contact details for local pharmacies will help over the bank holiday period.”

Dr Chris Duffy, local GP and Chairman of NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale CCG, said: "If your GP practice is closed, there are many ways you can receive treatment, depending on your symptoms, such as self-care and expert opinions from pharmacies, online and telephone advice, and access to GP appointments seven days a week. If you are registered with a GP in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale , you can book an appointment a GP or nurse by phoning 0161 763 8292 ”

Choosing the right service to meet your needs this bank holiday: 

• NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk) offers up to date expert advice as well details of local services
• NHS 111 is the non-emergency number open 24 hours a day. It’s fast, easy and free. Call 111 and you will be asked you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you
• Local community pharmacies can help you with lots of everyday ailments 
• Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and the 999 ambulance service should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situation such as choking, chest pain, blackouts, serious blood loss, suspected stroke or meningitis 

Bank Holiday Pharmacies:

• Pearl Pharmacy, 41 Tweedale Street, OL11 1HH, 01706 646840,  2 May Bank Holiday 10am - 4pm 
• Tesco Pharmacy, Barton Road, M24 1HB, 0161 956 2847, 2 May Bank Holiday11am - 4pm 
• Asda Pharmacy, Dane Street, OL12 6XT, 01706 652 010, 2 May Bank Holiday 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm
• Kingsway Pharmacy Morrisons Superstore, OL16 4AT, 01706 525 283, 2 May Bank Holiday 9am - 5pm 
• Boots Pharmacy, Market Way, OL16 1EA, 01706 653225, 2 May Bank Holiday 10.30am - 4.30pm