Doctors are reminding people to think carefully before coming to Bradford Royal Infirmary’s (BRI) Emergency Department (ED) as it is currently very busy and people with less urgent issues are experiencing longer waiting times.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs BRI, St Luke’s Hospital and the district’s community hospitals, said its services and wards are under significant pressure.
Dr Ray Smith, the trust’s Chief Medical Officer, said:
Over the last couple of weeks the number of patients seeking treatment at our ED has increased considerably.
The most urgent and life-threatening cases take priority, which means that unfortunately people coming in with less urgent issues are experiencing longer waiting times.
We are asking everyone to think carefully before coming to ED. Members of the public can really help by making sure that if they do choose to come to ED for treatment, that it is the best place for them to go to get the right care, as soon as possible. Our ED is for accidents and emergencies only, such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, significant head injuries and broken bones.
Using an alternative to ED when you aren’t seriously ill, such as calling NHS 111, consulting your GP or visiting your community pharmacist, could mean that you end up waiting less time to receive care.
Pharmacists can assess and treat patients for seven common conditions, including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65) without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.
For health needs that are not a life-threatening emergency but are urgent, or if you’re unsure what to do, NHS 111 will be able to advise you or direct you to the most appropriate part of the NHS, including booking an appointment for you if necessary. Go online at – 111.nhs.uk – or call 111 to speak to a fully trained advisor on the phone.
You can also check any symptoms and find out what to do and when to get help using the NHS website – nhs.uk. It can find services near you, such as local pharmacies, who can offer advice for common health problems such as sore throats and headaches, aches and pains, bumps and bruises or sickness and diarrhoea.
ED Clinical Lead and Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Mayada Elsheikh explained:
People who come to BRI’s department with minor conditions, which could be treated by self-care or a GP, will be re-directed to a more appropriate service away from the hospital.
Anyone attending ED for minor illnesses and injuries will be asked to contact NHS 111 or their own GP practice for advice and treatment, if needed.
Last week, ED introduced a one visitor per patient restriction as the trust is also seeing an uptake in flu cases at BRI and is encouraging anyone eligible for their annual flu vaccine to get it as soon as possible.
This is part of the trust’s plans to protect patients from high levels of flu currently circulating, and to reduce overcrowding in ED.
With immediate effect, people attending ED will be restricted to one visitor except those attending with children or relatives of patients who are critically unwell.
The trust is also asking visitors to its wards not to attend if they have any symptoms of flu or colds.
It is also appealing to the public to “be kind” to hospital staff, especially those working in ED, as they do their best in challenging circumstances.
Dr Elsheikh added:
Our teams are working tirelessly to provide emergency care to those who need us, such behaviour will not be tolerated and only increases waiting times.