The Island’s healthcare system remains under sustained pressure and Islanders are being asked to ensure they are well prepared ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.
Across the South the number of people going to Emergency Departments, dialing 999 and visiting their GP is continuing to rise year after year, and a significant proportion of these visits are for common complaints that are without the need for medical intervention.
People are encouraged to take more care with their health where possible by either asking their local pharmacy staff for advice, looking for advice on line (www.nhs.uk) or self treating using some basic medicine cabinet essentials.
Alan Sheward, Executive Director of Nursing and Workforce at Isle of Wight NHS Trust said:
“We are still seeing a high number of very poorly patients needing hospital care. Our staff are working incredibly hard to manage this peak in demand, but we would ask Islanders to also help us by only using hospital services if they really need to. It is important to ensure that they have enough of their regular medication to last through the Bank Holiday weekend, and to seek advice on minor conditions from their local pharmacy or GP, or via NHS 111 before visiting the Beacon Health Centre or the Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital.”
“We are also working hard to ensure that those patients who are well enough to return home or to ongoing care are supported to do so in preparation for the Bank Holiday weekend. We have been working closely with families, friends and partnership organisations to ensure patients are cared for in the most appropriate setting, either in the community or at home. We are grateful for continued support on this, as it means that patients will not remain in hospital unnecessarily over the Bank Holiday. It will also ensure the best quality of care to those patients in most need of hospital treatment.”
GPs should be visited if you have concerns about a condition that will not go away, or is getting worse. It is important to visit your GP if you have a recurring condition that is affecting your ability to function on a day to day basis.
Common complaints which can be treated at home with advice from the pharmacist include:
- Skin conditions, such as mild acne and mild eczema
- Coughs and colds including nasal congestion and sore throat
- Minor cuts and bruises
- Constipation and haemorrhoids (piles)
- Hay fever and allergies
- Aches, pains, such as headaches, earaches and backaches
- Indigestion, diarrhoea and threadworms
- Period pain and thrush
- Warts and verrucas, mouth ulcer and cold sores
- Athletes foot
- Nappy rash and teething
The 111 service, which is available 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year, should be called if medical help is needed fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency. 111 is free to call from landlines and mobiles and is staffed by a team of fully trained call advisers on the Island, supported by nurses, paramedics and doctors, who are on hand to assess callers’ needs and ensure they receive the right service as quickly as possible.
