Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) is urging the public to consider the best NHS service for their health condition before heading to the Emergency Department this May bank holiday weekend.
With high demand expected, and especially given the ongoing Norovirus outbreak, the Trust is reminding its local communities to only to attend their local Emergency Department in a genuine emergency and if their medical need is serious or life-threatening.
Instead, those who need other care or treatment should make use of alternative NHS services including NHS 111, Urgent Treatment Centres, local pharmacies and GP practices, who are also likely to be able to see you much quicker than ED.
Anyone arriving at the Emergency Department this bank holiday who does not have an urgent medical need, may be redirected to other NHS services if medically appropriate. This will help ensure the hospital can deliver urgent treatment to those who need it most.
To help keep patients, staff safe amidst the ongoing Norovirus risk and reduce the spread of further infection, the Trust has also taken the decision to restrict visiting to all its wards at East Surrey Hospital over the bank holiday weekend, except in exceptional circumstances.
This builds on the existing visiting restrictions already in place for affected wards at East Surrey Hospital, with the exception of patients on end of life care, in maternity and paediatric wards, and in ED.
Anyone coming to the site must follow additional infection control measures to help reduce the spread of Norovirus – including practicing good hand-hygiene, reducing their movement around the site, and wearing masks in affected clinical areas. You can find out more here.
Dr Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
"We know how important visiting is to our patients and their loved ones, and we apologise to any patients who might be impacted over the decision to restrict visiting this weekend, but with the continued presence of Norovirus across our hospital, reducing the number of people coming onto our site is vital for keeping our patients and staff safe, especially those who are vulnerable. We are keeping these measures under close review and are committed to resuming normal visiting as soon as we can safely do so.
"We continue to ask members of the public to consider alternatives to ED where their need is not urgent, and not to come to the hospital if they have had diarrhoea or vomiting in the last 48 hours to help prevent the further spread of Norovirus across our site and the local community."
Alternative local NHS services available:
Caterham Minor Injury Unit: Situated at Caterham Dene Hospital, Church Road, Caterham, CR3 5RA. The MIU is open every day from 8am to 8pm and is available for adults and children over the age of five. This facility, managed by qualified emergency nurse practitioners, offers a convenient alternative to A&E. It provides treatment for various minor injuries including cuts, sprains, fractures, bites, infections, eye problems, sports injuries, burns and scalds. X-ray services are available onsite.
Crawley Urgent Treatment Centre: Located at Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH. Open seven days a week from 7.30am to 10pm, this centre handles urgent but non-life-threatening injuries such as sprains, fractures, burns, head injuries and minor eye injuries.
East Grinstead Minor Injury Unit: Located at Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ. Open daily from 8am to 8pm. Run by experienced emergency practitioners, specialist nurse and paramedics, this unit caters to minor injuries and ailments in both adults and children over one year old. On-call services are also available for emergency referrals outside regular hours.
NHS 111: Accessible 24/7, providing guidance for urgent medical needs that are not life-threatening, either online or via phone.
Self-care: Minor ailments can often be managed at home or with assistance from local pharmacies.
Pharmacies: Qualified pharmacists can offer advice on various health issues and provide medications for common illnesses. Where GP surgeries are closed, it's recommended that individuals manage common illnesses like coughs, colds and stomach upsets at home whenever possible, with guidance from a pharmacist or NHS 111. Community pharmacies under the pharmacy first service are now equipped to address seven common conditions, such as sinusitis, sore throats and urinary tract infections in women. To locate open pharmacies during the weekend or nearby alternatives, visit the NHS website (find a pharmacy).
For advice to help prevent getting ill and self-manage minor illnesses visit the NHS website.