Great Western Hospital's Medical Director has joined calls for the public to pay their part in easing the current covid-related crisis.
The Swindon Hospital, in common with others throughout the country, has declared a critical incident amid rising covid cases and staff absence due to illness.
Dr Jon Westbrook said: “Our hospitals and other health and care services are facing an extraordinarily difficult start to the new year, with Omicron cases rising at an alarming rate and unprecedented numbers of staff unable to come into work to help because of covid-related illness and isolation.
“While we are still able to provide care for patients and are doing all we can to address this situation, we desperately need the public to do all they can to support us.
“Only very ill people should be in our hospitals at the moment, and families can help free up beds for those who really need them by promptly collecting and supporting loved ones who are well enough to leave hospital and continue their recovery at home.”
NHS chiefs have issued an urgent appeal for people in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group area to play their part and support their local hospitals.
They say people can make a difference by:
- Helping loved ones who are well enough to leave hospital to recover at home or in another suitable care setting, meaning that hospital beds are freed up for those who really need them
- Only visiting Accident and Emergency departments or calling 999 in the case of a genuine life-threatening emergency
Cara Charles Barks, Chief Executive of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, said: “A&E departments in all of our hospitals are experiencing a significant level of demand and those who attend our emergency departments without very good reason are making it much harder for our teams to care for those patients who really do need emergency medical treatment.
“If you need medical help, please remember the NHS 111 online service can give advice, including to those who think that they might need to visit a minor injury unit to treat issues such as broken bones and burns, while pharmacists can help with minor complaints including coughs, colds, ear ache and rashes.
“If you can access the internet then the online option will be best suited for you by visiting www.111.nhs.uk, otherwise please call the service on 111 and a trained advisor will help you. For more routine issues such as hangovers or an upset tummy please use your local pharmacy.
“Using the right service for you will mean that our A&E departments can respond rapidly for those people who need emergency treatment.”
More information about local health care services and when to use them can be found at https://bswccg.nhs.uk/your-health/hospital-care
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