As the Northern Ireland Health Service again faces a crisis at its Emergency Departments, a spokesperson for the Health and Social Care Board said: “Emergency Departments across Northern Ireland are currently experiencing a high level of pressure.
“The Health and Social Care Board and Public Health Agency are urging the public to consider other care options available to them such as their GP, nearest Minor Injury Unit or local pharmacy if their symptoms are not urgent or life threatening. By choosing the most appropriate service patients will receive the right treatment in the right place and will help alleviate pressures on other urgent care services at this very busy time.
“The public are reminded that Emergency Departments provide the highest level of emergency care for patients, especially those with sudden and acute illness or severe trauma. Patients who present at Emergency Departments will always be dealt with in order of clinical priority, so more acutely ill patients will be seen first.
“It is regrettable that some people are having to wait longer to be treated in Emergency Departments or to be admitted to hospital at this time. The public can assist by only attending an Emergency Department if their condition is urgent, so helping to ensure that the sickest patients get the care they need.
The Board and Agency are currently working closely with all Health and Social Care Trusts to optimise the flow of patients within hospitals and will continue to monitor the situation.”
The current ‘Choose Well’ campaign aims to help people gain a better understanding of the health services available to treat everything from a common cold to a major emergency.
Self-care is the best choice to treat minor illnesses, ailments and injuries. A range of common illnesses such as aches and pains, coughs, colds, upset stomachs and sore throats can be treated with over the counter medicines and plenty of rest. Remember, whether treated or not, most of these will get better.
Your local pharmacist can also provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints.
The GP out-of-hours service is available if you require urgent medical care when your daytime GP surgery is closed. Remember to telephone the service first.
Out of hours Dental Services
Details of dental services will be displayed at dental surgeries. For out of hours urgent dental problems, patients should contact their dental surgery or visit www.hscboard.hscni.net/news/EmergencyDentalServices.html or ring the Relief of Dental Pain Clinic out of hours telephone number 028 9063 8486. The Relief of Dental Pain Clinic is for the treatment of dental emergencies only, including trauma, swelling, uncontrolled bleeding and severe pain.
Out of hours Emergency Social Work Service
The out of hours Emergency Social Work Service is available outside normal office hours and on weekends, Bank Holidays and Public Holidays for genuine emergencies that cannot wait until the next working day. You can contact the service on 028 9504 9999.
Emergency Departments
Emergency Departments provide the highest level of emergency care for patients, especially those with sudden and acute illness or severe trauma. Normal Emergency Department services will be operating throughout the holiday period as usual. The service is for those in need of emergency treatment.
999 Ambulance Service
As always, the emergency ambulance service will be there if you need it. Always dial 999 when there is a risk to life or of serious injury. But, if your call is not an emergency, then please use the most appropriate service and help keep the 999 system clear for life threatening emergencies. Remember, you could risk a life if you tie up an emergency line for a non-emergency call. Your call could delay someone with a real emergency. Keep emergency lines free.
Mental health emergency
If you or someone is in a mental health crisis or emergency it’s important to get help quickly. If you have been or are being treated for a mental illness, you should have a care plan. Your care plan has names and numbers to call in an emergency.
If you don’t have a care plan, you should either:
* make an emergency appointment with your GP, or your GP out-of-hours service if the emergency is at night, weekend or a public holiday; or
* go to the Emergency Department at a hospital
However, if you can’t get the person you are caring for to an Emergency Department or you can’t keep them safe, you can call 999.
If you, or someone you know, needs help and you would like to speak to someone by telephone, you can also call Lifeline free, in confidence, 24/7 on 0808 808 8000.
For more information on choosing the right service visit:
