The NHS in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight today offered six top tips to get the best care and most appropriate support for your health needs if anyone unfortunately falls unwell this Easter.
They are:
- Please remember - the Emergency Department (ED) is for emergencies only, not convenience.
- Contact 111 online and let the experts help you I you are not sure on what is the most appropriate help for you.
- Urgent treatment centres in Portsmouth, Gosport, Petersfield, Southampton, the Isle of Wight and Lymington and the Minor Injuries Unit at Andover are best for minor injuries.
- Use the expert help available at dozens of pharmacies which will be open over the three-day bank holiday.
- Look after yourself – being ready to care for yourself can be a great help by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/ or by clicking here..
- Make use of online help – try www.nhs.uk for health and medicines advice and www.what0-18.nhs.uk/ if you are concerned about an unwell child.
You can find out which pharmacies near you are open on at least one of the three days over Easter by clicking on Hampshire or the Isle of Wight, depending on which area you want.
Dr Matt Nisbet, a GP and clinical lead for NHS Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: “Easter is likely to be another busy time for the NHS, with our teams again facing significant challenges.
“Everyone will be trying to help the people who most need their help be they ambulance crews, 111 call handlers or the clinical teams in our network of urgent treatment centres and minor injuries service.
“We are again asking people to help us to help them by ensuring you make good decisions about the help you might need if you are ill or suffer an injury, so please don’t just pitch up at our hospital emergency departments as you might get redirected to somewhere more appropriate for your needs.
“Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injuries Units are available in many parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and can help with expert advice and treatment for injuries and illnesses that need urgent medical attention but aren’t life threatening.
“These services are led by experienced clinicians including highly skilled Nurse Practitioners, Paramedics, GPs and other health professionals who can offer treatment, advice and information. Many services also have on-site x-ray facilities – and the waiting times can be shorter than at Emergency Departments.”
“We would also remind people who are on repeat medication to ensure that they check that they have enough supplies to get them through the bank holiday, as obviously, despite the Easter cover, a number of pharmacies will be closed.”
The first stage of the spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign began this week with older adult care residents being prioritised as teams visit care homes to help keep people safe.
More than 9,000 residents across 413 older adult care homes are eligible for the spring dose of the vaccine in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – but that figure soars to over 235,000 when you include everyone aged 75 years plus and those with a weakened immune system.
Eligible people will be invited to book either directly through their GP practice or, from tomorrow, (Wednesday April 5) using the National Booking Service or NHS App, with the first appointments becoming available week, commencing Monday April 17.
They may be invited by text, letter or NHS App if registered to use it. Those eligible don’t need to contact their practice directly about getting vaccinated as they will be invited to come forward when it is their turn. Most spring vaccination appointments will be offered by GP practices and community pharmacies.