Waiting times for A&E and the Urgent Treatment Centre at St Mary’s Hospital in Newport are now being displayed outside to encourage people to think twice about attending each department.
Having the current wait times on public display enables people to make an informed decision to either wait to be seen by a clinician at the hospital, or seek professional healthcare advice elsewhere.
The screens, which display further dynamic information underneath via a scrolling text bar, complement the recently launched NHS 111 First campaign that encourages everyone to contact NHS 111 first for the right care in the right place. Unless it is a medical 999 emergency, the NHS is urging everyone to call 111 rather than turning up at the hospital.
When people call NHS 111, they are taken through a series of questions which will determine the next course of action. This new scheme may result in a recommendation to visit a local pharmacy, an appointment being made with a GP, or an arrival time being given for the Urgent Treatment Centre or Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital. This helps the hospital know who and when someone is due to attend either department.
The aim is that the combined wait times on the electronic screens in conjunction with NHS 111 First, will prevent people from having an unnecessarily long wait to be seen at the Emergency Department or Urgent Treatment Centre.
For those that do decide to attend either department, then they can still keep any eye on the wait times via a screen in each one that mirrors the information. The Trust is also in the process of implementing the wait times on the front page of their website, making them visible without even entering the hospital site.
Joe Smyth, the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, said:
“We want people to have the most up to date information so they can make informed choices. These information boards will display the current waiting times in our Emergency Department and in our Urgent Treatment Centre. They will remind people that there are alternatives if they do not wish to wait and that these services can be accessed by calling NHS 111 First. This is another step in our on-going journey of making our services more accessible and patient focused.
Article continues below this advertisement “Our Emergency Department performance figures have improved significantly over the past six months, the public can support this improvement by remembering to call NHS 111 first for minor illness or injury.”
Samara Lamb, Head of Nursing for the Urgent and Emergency Care, said:
“The new screens displaying current Emergency Department (A&E) and Urgent Treatment Centre will inform and encourage those with non-life threatening emergency to seek the most appropriate service for their health care needs by calling 111 before presenting to either department.
“By the nature of the services, average waiting times can change significantly based on the number of attendances and acuity of presentations. Therefore, to keep patients informed of average waiting times is major progress.”
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This is disgusting. There is rarely help elsewhere to be found. Doctors are as illusive as the Dodo, and unless it is a mental health issue, which is just the Samaritan’s with an NHS uniform with pay, not a top shrink, just a person as unqualified as the caller, then every other department is cut to the bone.
The physical discomfort, and concern over peoples illnesses are adding to worries, and they need TREATMENT not just a, unqualified ‘ear’ to bend.
NEVER again clap for the NHS. Disgraceful treatment, OR ‘lack of it’ since CV, and we are in tier one, with few cases.
Never did clap and never would. Incompetent or lazy or corrupt. End of.
Perhaps they ought to put up the time to see a consultant, measured in months.
Yet money being spend on trivial mental issues, whilst the real health issues go unchecked, untreated, and cause real concern, not someone just wanting an ear to bend.
What’s this for in hope that people will pull up in the car park and say I’m not waiting 45mins I will just go home and die instead? Or book a doctors appointment for 6 months time.
We wouldn’t have to go A&E if we could see a doctor at the surgery they will pass the book anywhere rather than see you. Even other healthcare professionals are getting fed up with it. Opticians are getting concerned about number of people sent to them from a G.P when the G.P could have sorted it out. If you do doctors e-consult it tells you to call 111 or go to A&E . It’s disgraceful perhaps the other healthcare professionals should complain and get the lazy arse doctors back to work and earn the payrise they’ve just been given!
Often the problem is that ‘the most appropriate service’ isn’t available 24 hours so people pile into the only place open in town. Been the same for years. I always thought NHS walk-in centres were a great concept but they didn’t last long. Now it’s zoom a GP/pharmacist and everything’s grand, if you can get one of course.
Been keeping my eye on this, it’s been 41 mins for ages !!!
The majority of people who at the point of having to ring 111 don’t care how long it takes to see someone, they’re just desperate to get medical help. Obviously you only should ring 999 in a dire emergency. Hope the costs of these boards wasn’t too much money.