By Harry Mottram: With the cold weather, a seasonal flu outbreak and a surge in patients needing treatment the RUH in Bath’ Emergency Department has been asking the public for patience due to the NHS Hospital struggling to cope with the numbers needing treatment. Leaflets have been distributed giving details of how the public should act if they do need medical treatment.
The leaflet reads: “The Emergency Department team would like to apologise that you are currently waiting in the corridor.” It adds: “Please be assured our staff are doing everything possible to move patients through the department and into appropriate beds.”
The Bath Echo reported that Dr Amanda Webb, Chief Medical Officer for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, saying: “Our local NHS runs on a combination of robust planning and sheer resilience, and while we do all we can behind the scenes to keep services running, it’s the support of the public that can turn a very challenging situation into something much more manageable.
“There are so many health and care options available now, most of which can be accessed in seconds through either a smartphone or tablet, and we need these to be people’s first port of call whenever it is they feel that help is needed.
“By using NHS 111 online, or looking at the extensive health and care advice that’s listed on the NHS website, people can get instant answers to the questions they may have about managing their condition safely and effectively at home.
“Both options are available 24/7, and both will always signpost people to in-person help whenever appropriate, so no patients using these will ever fall through the cracks and be left without the care that’s right for them.”
NHS 111 online is available at www.111.nhs.uk, with further health advice at www.nhs.uk
