A&E is often not the answer. As we head into the coldest months of the year, we’re asking patients to think which services they may need.
Local health services, including the Emergency Department and assessment units at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, are under significant pressure at the moment. A large number of patients are being admitted to hospital with respiratory illnesses, and staff are doing their best to treat those in most urgent need of care.
It is important to remember that you should only attend your local Emergency Department (often called A&E) if you are suffering a serious injury or illness. If you are unsure if you should go to A&E, you can check your symptoms using NHS 111 online or by telephone (for children under 5, call 111).
Emergency Departments across the region are extremely busy and need to prioritise patients who are in the most urgent need of care. For non-life threatening illnesses and injuries, you are likely to be seen quicker by going to other health services – read more below.
NHS 111
Use NHS 111 online or call 111 to get quick advice about your symptoms. Sometimes, you might simply be able to care for yourself at home.
Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) – Best for non-life threatening conditions
Your nearest Urgent Treatment Centre is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, for walk-ins and patients booked via NHS 111.
You can go to a UTC to be diagnosed and treated for a range of non-life threatening injuries and illnesses which people often go to A&E for, including:
- Minor injuries such as sprains, strains and suspected broken bones
- Minor head injuries
- Cuts and grazes
- Bites and stings
- Minor scalds and burns
- Ear and throat infections
- Skin infections and rashes
- Eye problems
- Coughs and colds
- Feverish illness in adults and children
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting and diarrhoea.
Derbyshire has five Urgent Treatment Centres:
Think: Pharmacy first!
Your local pharmacy can directly treat coughs, sore throats, ear and skin infections, sinusitis and much more – all without having to book an appointment, too.
For symptoms such as these, you are much more likely to get quicker treatment compared to booking a GP appointment, due to the level of demand for appointments.
Find your nearest pharmacy using the NHS website.
If you need a pharmacist during the Christmas and New Year bank holidays, check online for pharmacies which will be open at Christmas and New Year.
Free urgent eyecare services
For sudden eye problems, you can get fast and effective treatment by self-referring to the Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES). You will likely be seen within 24 hours if your problem is urgent.
The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) also treats recently occurring minor eye problems.
These are NHS services provided by specialist optometrists (often called opticians) and are available to people of all ages. Best of all, you don’t need a referral from a GP to use this service.
Request an appointment with us
For the bank holidays on 25 December (Christmas Day), 26 December (Boxing Day) and 1 January (New Year’s Day), our surgeries and Anima’s online request function will be closed.
When we are open, if you have an ongoing health problem and would like to see one of our clinicians about it, you can submit a quick and easy request online between 7am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. You can also call us on 01246 748000.
Have you had your flu jab?
Winter is flu season, and one of the best ways to prevent illness can be to get your flu vaccination. Only certain groups of people are entitled to a free flu jab, so make sure to check if you are eligible.
Let us know if you’d like to book a vaccination, or you can find a local pharmacy who offers this service.