A&E teams across the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire are appealing to the public to do your bit and only attend A&E or call 999 if you have serious or life-threatening emergencies.
Is it an emergency?Deepak Dwarakanath is Medical Director at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. He said: “The number of covid-19 cases in our communities and our hospitals are continuing to decline. But we still face challenges posed by the pandemic which includes adhering to social distancing and infection control precautions.
“This means the space available to care for people and allow our staff to work safely still remains reduced by between 30 and 50 per cent. And we know this will continue for some time to come.
“At the same time, we know that many people who come into our A&E department could have been dealt with much more quickly and safely by an alternative healthcare service.”
Mike Stewart is Chief Medical Officer at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He said: “This is why we are continuing to urge the public to think pharmacy, GP and 111 first. Only attend A&E or call 999 if you have serious or life-threatening emergencies.
“Those that do turn up to A&E will, of course, be assessed clinically by a member of our team. But they will be re-directed to a more appropriate service for their needs if they don’t need emergency care.
“By thinking of alternative services people will help stop the spread of coronavirus, keep people safe and keep A&E for those that really need it. Please do your bit.
“Please remember that NHS 111 online or telephone can make direct appointments at surgeries, pharmacies and urgent treatment centres. They can also send an ambulance for serious or life-threatening issues.”
Visiting hospital
Staff at both trusts are also urging people to remember the following:
- Please remember to wear a face covering
- Use the handwashing and alcohol gel facilities available
- Please attend appointments on your own, where possible
- If you suspect you have COVID-19 stay at home and get a test
And as restrictions start to ease in the coming months and with warmer weather on the way, the NHS is also asking people to use services sensibly.
Clinical lead for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System, Professor Chris Gray, said: “Over the coming months as restrictions start to ease and the weather improves we are asking people to act responsibly, follow the rules and consider carefully the impact alcohol and other behaviours can have on NHS services such as emergency care.
“The support for the NHS has been amazing over the past year so we would like to thank all our communities for all they have done to help us. Please keep this up, there are brighter times ahead if we all do our bit.”
