Residents will no doubt have seen news about the extreme pressure Accident and Emergency (A&E) services are experiencing at the present time. With the weather getting colder this is likely to get worse.

Our local NHS hospital provider has seen it’s busiest time at A&E ever in the last month and staff will be working very hard to meet the demand. Pennine Acute does report that in the year since last April that 94% of patients at A&E are seen, treated, discharged or admitted within 4 hours.

The NHS in Greater Manchester has produced a website to give us all information about which services we should use in different circumstances. This includes when it is right to ‘look after ourselves’ at home.

I know a lot of people do struggle to get GP appointments which can be very frustrating. There is some good news GPs in Bury have been awarded £2.9 million to develop improved access to GPs right across the Bury Borough, including appointments later in the day and at weekend. More information on this as soon as it is available.

The following information is from the NHS in Greater Manchester – click on the buttons to access the full information:

Self-care is the best choice to treat minor illnesses and injuries. A large range of common illnesses and injuries can be treated at home simply with over-the-counter medicines and plenty of rest.

This section on the ‘Choose Well’ website has lots more information on which illnesses and injuries can be safely managed at home, how to do it and what signs to look out for that tell you it’s time to get help from NHS services in your area or at hospital in an emergency.

There is a range of NHS services and NHS professionals that work in your neighbourhood. From GP practices and pharmacies to dentists, health visitors, community nurses and midwives. These are the people who can help you when looking after yourself at home isn’t enough.

 

Sometimes, you may be so unwell that you need to go to hospital. When self-care and NHS services in your area can’t make things better, or when something is so serious that you need an ambulance, going to Accident and Emergency might be the best thing to do.

Accident and Emergency is for serious, life-threatening conditions that need immediate medical attention.

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