'Choose Well' to ease pressure on health services
Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 30 Dec 2011 16:00
HOSPITAL bosses are warning people to think carefully before dialling 999 or visiting A & E to ease pressure on overstretched emergency services over the New Year Bank Holiday.
Royal Berkshire Hospital staff urge people with non-life threatening injuries to seek help via pharmacies, out of hours GP services, the 24 hour Berkshire West NHS Walk-In Centre in Broad Street Mall and on NHS Direct and only visit the Emergency Department as a last resort.
The warning is part of the NHS Choose Well message, reminding service users there are a range of options to cope with minor ailments such as coughs, colds, cuts, grazes and sprains.
Hospital spokesman Joe Wise said: "In common with other hospitals and the rest of the health economy, we are experiencing very high levels of demand at present both from direct admissions and those via the Emergency Department. The numbers of patients being admitted at this time of year is traditionally higher but at present the demand is considerably higher than would be normally expected.
"People should heed the Choose Well message to greatly help Emergency Department staff continue to provide as fast as possible a service for patients needing urgent assistance.
Contact the Walk-In Centre on 0118 902 8300 or see www.readingwalkinhealthcentre.nhs.uk contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47, log on to NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk or see www.choosewelltoday.com
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 30 Dec 11
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