Look after your health this holiday
PEOPLE across the region are being urged to do their bit to avoid unnecessary pressure Suffolk's health service over the bank holiday weekend.East of England Ambulance Service chiefs have called for people to consider whether they have a genuine emergency before making the call to paramedics.
PEOPLE across the region are being urged to do their bit to avoid unnecessary pressure Suffolk's health service over the bank holiday weekend.
East of England Ambulance Service chiefs have called for people to consider whether they have a genuine emergency before making the call to paramedics.
And Suffolk Community Healthcare (SCH) and NHS Suffolk have appealed to the public to make sure they go to the right place so they can get treated quickly.
Neil Storey, Interim Associate Director of A&E services for the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "Traditionally we see a higher number of 999 calls over bank holiday weekends, which puts the ambulance service under additional pressure.
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"We're asking people to ensure they are being safe so that they don't require treatment in the first place. However, should they find themselves in a situation where they need medical attention, they should consider whether it's a genuine emergency or not."
People with minor illness or complaints are encouraged to call NHS Direct (0845 46 47), or visit a local walk-in centre such as the minor injuries unit at Felixstowe General Hospital or the Riverside Clinic in Landseer Road, Ipswich.
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Nicola Cottington, acting head of adult services for SCH, said: “The minor injuries unit provides a fast alternative to A&E for a wide variety of problems and is seeing more and more patients every year.
“Our highly skilled nurses can treat everything from cuts and minor burns to stings, hyperventilation and palpitations, and also offer emergency contraception and help for people with eye injuries.
“We would urge people to only contact the ambulance service or visit A&E in a genuine emergency.”
Anyone who needs a doctor out-of-hours should telephone their surgery to be directed to the GP out-of-hours service. Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available from local pharmacies or GPs.
PANEL
Patients MUST ring 999 however if the situation is life-threatening or serious - for example, if a patient is:
n. Complaining of chest pain
n. Unconscious or fitting
n. Losing a lot of blood
n. Having a suspected stroke
n. Suffering from a deep wound or head injury
n. Having difficulty in breathing
