Inappropriate visits prompt urge to only use A&E if it's an accident or emergency

THE dog weeing on a plaster cast, toothache for a week, a sore throat and earache, are just some of the inappropriate reasons people have visited A&E.

And now Accident and Emergency staff at Grimsby's Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, are urging people to stop and think before they dash off there as a first port of call – especially with the Easter Bank Holiday weekend coming up.

THINK FIRST: The Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, Grimsby.

Clinical director for A&E at Grimsby, Oltunde Ashaolu said: "I would ask people to think very carefully whether their injury or illness really is an accident or an emergency. There are many alternatives to A&E which will see people get the right treatment, if needed, easily and quickly.

"We see a lot of people come to A&E who have dental pain, who have forgotten to renew their prescription from their GP, or who want the morning after pill.



"People can help themselves by making sure they are prepared. For example, make sure you have renewed your prescription from your GP so you do not run out of your medication, including contraceptives. For those people who have toothache, we do not have a dental department within A&E, so in the majority of cases all we can do is provide them with the number for the emergency out-of-hours dentist, which they can get from calling their own dental practice."
 
Genuine reasons people have given for going to A&E include:

• Toothache for a week
• The dog did a wee on my plaster cast on my arm
• Worried about a freckle
• Flu-like symptoms
• Sore throat
• Ongoing headaches
• Run out of prescription medication and GP shut on New Year's Day
• Earache

Mr Ashaolu stressed that people should remember the following:

A&E is not an alternative to your GP. It is not appropriate to go to A&E simply because your general practitioner cannot see you immediately.

GPs are experts in general medial problems whereas A&E doctors are specialists in treating emergency patients who have had an accident or are suffering from a serious/life- threatening illness.

It is not appropriate to go to A&E for a "second opinion" if you have already been to see your GP.

Calling 999 does not get you to the top of the A&E queue.

He said: "When it comes to your health, or the health of someone in your family, it is often very obvious if the person is seriously ill and needs emergency care. You should seek medical attention by phoning 999 for an emergency ambulance."

An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation such as:

• Suspected heart attack
• Chest pain
• Unconsciousness
• Heavy blood loss
• Suspected broken bones
• Deep wounds, such as stab wounds
• Severe breathing difficulties
• Head injuries.

Mr Ashaolu said: "In these instances, remember to stay calm, do everything you can to help the person, but don't put yourself in danger and don't give the person anything to eat, drink or smoke. Where someone is unconscious or appears to have had a heart attack, call 999 for an ambulance and use the A and B of resuscitation."

A – Airway – remove any obvious obstruction, such as loose teeth or food, tilt the head back gently.

B – Breathing – place your cheek by the victim's mouth and look to see if the chest is rising, listen and feel for breathing. If they are not breathing or the breathing is noisy or gasping, call 999 for an ambulance. If the situation was not critical and you are unsure of what course of action to take, call the new NHS line on 111.