NHS services under pressure – advice to service users who may need healthcare
The Derby and Derbyshire health and care system remains under pressure today, having declared a critical incident alert on 31 December due to new levels of demand for services. This is the latest guidance from NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board/Joined Up Care Derbyshire:
“We are open for business and here for people who need us but we are asking members of the public to support us in a number of important ways so that we can maximise our capacity and resources across the health and care system.
What members of the public can do to help:
Our teams continue to work exceptionally hard and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that despite the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them, so if you require urgent medical help, you should continue to come forward.
Other things which everyone can do to help the NHS right now, include:
- Only call 999 or attend accident and emergency departments when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
- When needing urgent medical care but it’s not an emergency, visit NHS 111 online - 111.nhs.uk - or call NHS111 for advice on how to get care at any time of day or night.
- Utilising an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) if you have a minor illness or injury, such as sprains, fractures, minor burns, skin infections, animal bites, minor eye and head injuries, stings and bites. Urgent treatment centres/Minor Injury Units are available 8am-8pm in Derby, Ilkeston, Ripley, Darley Dale, Buxton, Lichfield and Tamworth and can help with care and treatment for many of the most common issues that people attend emergency departments for. They will often be able to help get the care needed more quickly than accident and emergency departments. Please only attend a UTC if you need urgent treatment for an illness or injury.
- See a pharmacist for advice on a minor illness such as a cough or cold. Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns. As qualified healthcare professionals, they can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
- Contact your GP for symptoms that won't go away, such as lumps, unexpected weight loss, abnormal bleeding and persistent pain. GP practices also employ highly trained professionals such as physiotherapists, nurses, dieticians and others.
- Check on neighbours, friends and family who have an existing respiratory condition, to ensure they are okay and not suffering from additional wheeziness or shortness of breath. It is also important to ensure they are following their care plan with medication, inhalers and oxygen support. If you are concerned and feel you need clinical advice, use NHS 111 online or call 111. It is essential that they receive treatment early and seek to prevent an admission to hospital.
- Support loved ones who are ready to leave hospital by doing six simple things:
- Bring clothes for leaving hospital
- Arrange access to their home or place they call home and to check on heating and food
- Check transport arrangements
- Ensure they have any dressings or equipment they need
- Confirm any follow up appointments
- Check for valuables and belongings when leaving
- If unable to make any NHS appointment, please contact the number on appointment letters so that it can be reallocated to another patient.
- Please continue to treat all NHS and care staff with the respect they deserve. Our hard-working staff and volunteers are doing all they can to keep patients safe and supported.
There is a range of other steps the community can take at this time help the NHS, and further information is available at www.joinedupcarederbyshire.co.uk
“We will continue to prioritise patients in order of clinical need to ensure that we can continue to manage emergency care. We are working hard to protect planned appointments and operations for patients who have an urgent need or have already waited a long time for their procedure. If you are not contacted directly, please continue to attend your appointment for all services and continue to call 999 where there is a threat to life.
“We want to assure you that we are continuing to work together to do everything we can to address this situation. Ensuring the safe care of patients is our main priority and our staff continue to work tirelessly to provide this. By declaring a critical incident we are able to introduce extra support, focusing on frontline care and discharges and we are monitoring the situation hourly. We are grateful to our staff across the health and care system for their incredible efforts which has enabled us to maintain service delivery across the New Year and bank holiday period.”