A&E Easter Warning

Staff in the region's busiest A&E department are asking the public to think carefully about their health needs over Easter.

Easter proves to be a very busy time for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital's A&E team and people often see A&E as their only option.

Many people attend A&E with minor injuries or ailments or even because they have forgotten to order prescriptions in time for the bank holidays.

Mandy Lees, A&E senior nurse manager, said: “Last Easter we undertook a survey of patients attending the A&E Department which showed that 50% of them did so without seeking help or advice from another healthcare professional first, with 18% saying the bank holiday period was the reason for their decision to attend A&E.

To support this was a study undertaken in October 2004 which showed that 76% of patients attending with a minor injury or illness could have been seen elsewhere. We ask that people access other NHS services and remember the purpose of A&E is to treat serious injury and illness. The bank holiday period is a notoriously busy time and priority will be given to those who need emergency care”.

The NHS in Norfolk provides a full range of services every day of the year including over the Easter bank holidays:

Norwich NHS Walk In Centre

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.  

Cromer Minor Injuries Unit

Cromer Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit, Mill Road, is open from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, and its nurses can treat a range of minor injuries, including:

• Minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness) 
• Simple wounds 
• Simple eye conditions, foreign body, corneal abrasions 
• Minor burns 
• Soft tissue injury 
• Bites and stings, with no associated complications, or acute reaction 
• Simple fractures

GP Out of hours (inc weekends and public holidays)

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.  

Emergency NHS dental care

If you have dental pain and need advice or treatment during the evening, at a weekend or a public holiday call this number: 08456 003246. You will be able to get advice on pain relief or an appointment will be made for you to see an emergency dental practitioner within 24 hours.

The service is open weekdays and weekends (between 18.00 and 08.30), and on bank holidays.

NHS Direct

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.

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.