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Local NHS pilot to help you get the treatment you need! Knowing where to go to get the right healthcare can help you get faster, more convenient treatment say emergency doctors at St Peter’s Hospital. www.choosewell.nhs.uk
Dr Vincent O’Neill, an A&E consultant at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust said: “There are many people who come to our A&E department [at St Peter’s Hospital] who could be seen more quickly and appropriately elsewhere. Obviously we have to prioritise emergency patients, which means many people with less urgent health issues will wait much longer than if they had gone to their GP or local walk-in centre for example.”
The advice comes as nurse practitioners from local Walk-in Centres begin a two-week trial at St Peter’s A&E to help patients find the most suitable medical care.
The experienced nurses will be assessing patients as they arrive at A&E and, if appropriate, make an appointment for them with their GP, direct them to a pharmacy or one of the neighbouring Walk-in Centres.
Sara McMullen is one of the nurse practitioners taking part and has more than 20 years experience in both A&E and Walk-in Centres. She says: “I am sure there are many patients who come to A&E with minor problems and illnesses that would be more than happy to be signposted to the right place, where more often than not they will have a much shorter wait. There are many different ways to access healthcare and often people simply don’t know what the alternatives to A&E are.
Emergency nurse practitioners like myself will be able to help patients who don’t need the specialist emergency care of A&E, by either signposting them or helping them make a more appropriate appointment elsewhere. Of course if patients still wish to be seen in A&E then staff in the department will be happy to see them. But what we are trying to do is help people find the most appropriate care, which will also help staff in A&E concentrate on those needing emergency care. This is a two-week trial and we’ll be making the results available to members of the public.”
There is a wide range of NHS services that can save Surrey patients time and help them to get the right treatment. These include calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647, asking a local pharmacist for advice, booking an appointment with your GP or using a Walk-in Centre.
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