Save ambulances for real emergencies this winter

Judi Ingram, Interim Locality Chief Operating Officer for Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridgeshire, said: "We are seeing more and more 999 calls coming in for conditions which are not emergencies and for which treatment is readily available elsewhere in the NHS.

"We don't for one moment want to put off people with genuine emergencies from calling us, but with calls seemingly on a never-ending upward curve we need people to think carefully about whether they really need an ambulance before making the call.  This is particularly relevant over the winter, when the number of calls peaks during the type of cold weather currently being forecast, and calls will be triaged and patients managed at home or given advice about self treatment or other NHS services where appropriate.

"Our crews and responders are striving to meet the most challenging ambulance response times in the world, and we need public support to help us reach those most in need of our help as quickly as possible."

Dr. Nick Morton, assistant medical director for the ambulance service said:  “The public should be reassured that there is no need to go to A&E or call for an ambulance if you are have a minor illness or injury.  If you are unwell with the kind of symptoms you would normally visit your GP about, but either can’t treat yourself or don’t know what to do ring NHS Direct for advice. 

“The GP out-of-hours service is also available when your local GP surgery is closed, at night and 24/7 on weekends and bank holidays. Call them on your GP surgery number or ring NHS Direct on 08454647.  If you call, try to be ready with the name, address and post code of the patient, a brief description of what is wrong and, if possible, a list of the patient’s usual medication.  Your call will be taken and a doctor or nurse will ring you back.  They may advise on self treatment, you may be asked to go to an out of hours’ clinic or a visit may be arranged if medically appropriate.”

Dr. Morton is advising the public to think ahead by ordering repeat prescriptions in good time and buying over the counter remedies for things like colds, coughs, sore throat, hangovers, headaches and indigestion.  If you feel unwell and need advice, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, they will refer you to the best service for your problem.  He continues:  “The emergency ambulance service and hospital A&E departments are there to deal with urgent medical emergencies and life threatening problems and we need to keep those services available for the people who really need them.  Please be patient with the out-of-hours service, it experiences its highest call volume of the year over Christmas and returning calls can take a while at peak periods.”

Winter checklist:

If you need regular prescription medicines:
GP surgeries will be closed for the four days at Christmas and on Thursday, January 1, 2009.  Anyone who takes regular prescribed medicines should make sure they have a sufficient supply and allow enough time to order and collect repeat prescriptions before their surgery closes for the holiday. 

Treat yourself at home:
The majority of minor illness and injury, such as colds and flu, coughs, sore throats, indigestion, headaches, cuts and bruises, can all be treated at home if you have a supply of over the counter remedies available from a pharmacy and most supermarkets.  If you have young children, don’t forget suitable medicines for them.

Urgent Pharmacy:
There will be at least one local pharmacy open in each area for a few hours a day during the holidays, to enable people to obtain prescriptions or urgent over-the-counter medicines. To find out which pharmacies are open in your area call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

NHS Direct:
24/7 confidential, telephone service 0845 4647.  Highly trained nurses and call takers respond to requests for information and medical advice.  They will refer anyone who is unsure whether they need medical help to the most appropriate service. 

Advice and treatment when your GP surgery is closed:
A GP service for urgent advice and treatment overnight, from 6.30 pm to 8.00 am and 24 hours at weekends and bank holidays.   Telephone your own doctor’s surgery and you will be automatically diverted or advised how to contact the service. 

NHS Walk-in Centre (Norwich and Peterborough only):
No appointment is necessary at this nurse-led service which provides advice and treatment for a wide range of minor illness and injury, including:

•           Coughs, colds, sore that, earache, and flu-like symptoms

•           Minor cuts, bruises and wounds

•           Muscle and joint injuries - strains and sprains

•           Skin complaints - rashes, sunburn, bites and stings

•           Minor burns and scalds

•           Stomach ache, indigestion, constipation, vomiting and diarrhoea

•           Minor eye infections, foreign bodies in the eye

•           Women's health problems, thrush and menstrual advice

•           Emergency contraception

•           Support for stopping smoking

Norwich - Pound Lane, Dussindale, Thorpe St. Andrew, Norwich. (Next to Sainsbury’s).  Open weekdays and Saturdays from 7 am to 10 pm and Sundays and Bank holidays from 9 am to 10 pm.  Christmas Day only closed.

Peterborough - Rivergate Primary Care Centre, Viersen Platz, Peterborough, PE1 1SE.  Tel: 01733 293800. Open 7 am to 10 pm 7 days a week.  Christmas Day only 10 am to 6 pm.

Minor Injury Units:
Minor Injury Units (MIU’s) are an alternative to A&E and can treat a wide variety of problems, including, cuts/grazes and lacerations; sprains and strains; minor burns and scalds/ minor eye infections, foreign bodies and scratches; bites and strings, minor head injuries (where there is no loss of consciousness.  No appointment is necessary.  Some GP surgeries also offer a minor injuries service.   To find out there is an MIU in your area contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Calling 999 for an emergency ambulance or going to hospital accident & emergency:
Depending on the situation, dial 999 or go to A&E straight away.  It is an emergency if the person is:

·                    Having a suspected heart attack
·                    Complaining of chest pains
·                    Unconscious
·                    Losing a lot of blood
·                    Suspected of having a broken bone
·                    Suffering from a deep wound or head injury
·                    Struggling to breathe

If you suspect that someone has had a stroke, call 999 and ask for an emergency ambulance.  Make the patient comfortable and do the F.A.S. test - test all three – so that you can tell the ambulance crew when they arrive:

F = facial weakness: can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye dropped?
A = arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms?
S = speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Visitors to the area:
People visiting friends and relatives over the holiday period should contact NHS Direct on 08454647 if they fall ill and need advice or treatment. NHS Direct will be able to transfer them to the most appropriate service.