NHS bosses have asked people to avoid going to hospital unless they are seriously ill or injured, following a huge spike in attendances at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General.
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As reported last week, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has seen an ‘unprecedented’ number of patients turning up at emergency and urgent care units.
The units together dealt with a daily average of 572 people, compared to the average of 479 last winter. Most went to the emergency department at the Royal Blackburn, with the rest attending the minor units in Burnley, Accrington and Rossendale.
Hospitals receive cash from Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) for each hospital attendance, so The high attendances have financial implications as well as risking the quality of services.
Dr Mike Ions, chief clinical officer at East Lancashire CCG, said: “During winter our emergency departments are under increased pressure, and even more so over the festive period.
“This means it is essential that the public think carefully before visiting emergency departments. There are often better alternatives which can help people get the right treatment more easily and quicker.
“We obviously aren’t telling people who are in need of urgent medical attention not to attend our emergency departments, but ask people to consider whether they actually need to go or could be seen and treated elsewhere.”
Patients should contact pharmacists or the NHS 111 service for advice on minor illnesses such as coughs, colds and vomiting, he added.
Dr Chris Clayton, of Blackburn with Darwen CCG, said: “Coughs colds, sore throats, vomiting and other minor ailments such as sprains, do not necessarily require a trip to a local urgent care centre. Self-care could often be the first port of call in these instances, but help and advice for such illnesses can be sought from elsewhere should people require it.
“Pharmacists are experts in medicine and can offer expert help with common complaints and advise when symptoms are more serious that a GP visit maybe necessary.”
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