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Keep A&E free for people with serious
or life threatening conditions
PEOPLE are being urged to avoid using
A&E at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals unless they have a serious injury or
illness, or face a life threatening emergency. Southport Hospital in particular
is extremely busy after a weekend which saw 4 out of 5 patients on Saturday
needing more thorough clinical assessment, investigation or observation before
they could be treated.
Therese Patten, Chief Operating Officer, said:- "Local health and social
care services are working closely to get patients the care they need where and
when they need it. However, we also need our community's help to keep our
Hospitals moving at this challenging time.
Please use A&E services only if you need them and think carefully before calling
an ambulance.
If you have a friend, relative or loved already in Hospital, you can also help
by supporting our staff to get them ready when it's time to go home."
A&E is for people with serious injuries or illness, or life threatening
emergencies, such as severe chest pains, breathing difficulties, loss of
consciousness or bleeding that won't stop.
Contact a GP or a GP out of hours service for help with injuries or illnesses
that won't go away.
For people needing urgent help with minor illnesses or injuries no appointment
is necessary at a Walk In Centre. West Lancashire Health Centre at Ormskirk
Hospital is open from 8am to 7.30pm all year round. Skelmersdale NHS Walk in
Centre, at The Concourse is open, from 8am to 7.30pm, weekdays, and from 9am to 5pm,
on weekends.
NHS:- 111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It's fast, easy and free. Call:- 111 and
speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They
will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately
direct you to the best medical care for you.
Local Pharmacists and the NHS Choices
website are also a good source of
information and advice.
Coughs, colds, sore throats, upset stomachs, general aches and pains, and flu
will usually clear up on their own. Keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and, if
appropriate, treat with over the counter painkillers such as Paracetamol, if
your not allergic to it.
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