Health bosses across the North East have urged the public to be prepared, think carefully about which NHS service they might need, and be cautious about what they get up to over the Easter holidays and the May bank holiday.
Dr Neil O'Brien - executive medical director of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) - said people could help the NHS by taking simple steps over the coming holidays. The top doctor said that with the NHS still under serious pressure from Covid-19 it was important for everyone to play their part.
Key advice includes stocking up on over-the-counter medication before the holidays begin and ensuring repeat prescriptions have been filled before pharmacies shut. Dr O'Brien also said people should, if they needed medical attention, consider carefully if they needed to go to A&E or if pharmacies, GPs and the 111 service were likely to be a better choice. He also urged people to enjoy the holidays but to do so safely.
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Dr O'Brien said: "If people are unwell then it’s vital they seek medical help if they need it, but we are asking the public to once again think carefully about which service can help them in the first instance. A&E departments and 999 are there to treat the most serious and life-threatening conditions so please think about whether your local pharmacy, GP and 111 online or telephone can help.
“One of the best things you can do is to keep some basic medicines at home, so you have them available when unexpected minor illness or injury occurs."
He said medicine cabinet essentials included paracetamol, plasters, and medicines to tackle indigestion and diarrhoea, and reminded the public that GPs' surgeries would be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, meaning that they'd not be able to process repeat prescriptions. He added: "Bank holidays are always a busy time for the NHS and this Easter with a continued rise in Covid cases in the community it’s impacting on staff sickness across ambulance, hospital and general practice staff.
“Thanks to the vaccine programme, the numbers admitted to our hospitals’ intensive care units with Covid-19 remains low but is increasing. That said we still face challenges of reduced space in some hospital treatment areas and GP surgeries as we continue to follow strict infection control measures to ensure patients and staff are safe."
One way of limiting the pressure on the NHS over holiday periods is to minimise injuries caused by "overdoing it". Dr O'Brien said: "Whether you’ll be working in the garden, doing some DIY or taking part in outdoor activities we want you to do it safely and this also includes taking care when drinking alcohol.
"During the bank holidays we often see increased pressure on A&E and emergency services with illness, injury, accidents and violence related incidents due to people drinking too much - sadly, we also see violence and aggression to our staff which will not be tolerated. While we understand people want to have fun, we know you don’t want to spend valuable holiday time in an A&E department or hospital because you've over done it, so please reduce your drinking."
Bishop Auckland pharmacist Pete Horrocks - from Knights Pharmacy - said: "Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you and your family with minor and common health concerns.
"As qualified healthcare professionals, we are clinically trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice, as well as offering over-the-counter medicines for a range of common illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains."
The NHS has also released a list of examples of cases when going to A&E or calling 999 is the best option. These include: Losing consciousness; being "acutely confused" or having fits which do not stop; chest pain; breathing difficulties; severe bleeding which does not stop; severe allergic reactions, burns, or scalds; someone suffering the signs of stroke; and major trauma from, for example, a car accident.
