A new season for A&E posters
The on-going campaign to inform the public about the alternative local health services available rather than using A&E departments has taken another big step forward.
Norwich City Football Club has now joined the campaign by providing sites for the posters to be displayed in the Carrow Road stadium.
“The smooth running of hospital A&E departments is crucial to each and every one of us,” said Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the club, “Norwich City Football Club is very happy to support this campaign and will be displaying the posters throughout the coming season.”
The campaign was launched in February this year and many local organisations, including Norfolk pubs and clubs, have been displaying the posters which ask the important question, ‘A&E – Do you really need to go there?’
“We are very grateful to Norwich City Football Club for their help in extending this campaign,” said Mr Bruce Finlayson, lead A&E Consultant at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, “A&E is a very important service that is available 24 hours a day for the public, but it is, as the name clearly states, for Accidents and Emergencies. Our posters are asking the public to pause for thought and ask themselves if they really need to go to A&E, or is there perhaps a different NHS service they could use.”
Editorial notes: The A&E department of the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital is the busiest in the region (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire) and treated 71,272 patients during 2004/05.
Alternative NHS services:
- For minor injuries and illnesses, visit the Norwich NHS Walk-In Centre, Dussindale, Thorpe St. Andrew, Norwich, telephone 01603 300122. The team of experienced nurses will assess, advise and treat people without an appointment. The Centre is open on weekdays and Saturdays from 7 am to 10 pm, and Sundays and bank holidays from 9 am to 10 pm.
- When your GP’s surgery is closed, Anglian Medical care provides family medical care overnight, at weekends and on bank holidays. Either call your doctors number and listen to the answer’phone message or call the service direct on 01603 488488. A doctor will assess your problem and will either give advice over the phone, arrange a home visit from a GP or other qualified professional, or ask you to visit your nearest centre for treatment.
- For free, confidential advice from experienced nurses call NHS Direct 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0845 46 47 or visit NHS Direct Online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk the website includes a self help guide, a health encyclopaedia and links to other useful sources of health information.
- When your GP’s surgery is closed and one of the other services is not appropriate, pharmacies can also often give health advice especially concerning medicines.