Not just A & E

NHS Lothian has launched a clear-cut campaign to make sure patients know where to get help if they are sick or injured this winter.

The “Not Just A&E” campaign has been designed to help patients get the right care in the right place and ensure that the emergency department is able to focus on treating people in life-threatening situations.

Emergency departments in Lothian are busier than ever before and “Not Just A&E” is designed to remind patients of the other expert options available.
The “Not Just A&E” campaign, which is part of the overall Winter Plan in Lothian, explains that the Accident and Emergency department is not the only option where patients can seek care and treatment.

Instead it points patients to other expert services where they may be seen faster and which may be closer to home.

It urges patients to consider minor injuries units, pharmacists, optometrists, dentists and their GP. And if they are looking for help at night or on weekends to remember to use NHS 24.

Jacquie Campbell, Chief Officer of Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “We know that it can be confusing to know where to get help and often patients may find themselves in A&E because they are not sure of the alternatives.

“We want to make sure everyone knows all of the options available to them – very often that service is available faster and closer to home.

“The message is especially important over the festive holidays when some services are limited and we would urge patient to think before they go to A&E and ask themselves if they could be treated elsewhere.”

The campaign is part of the multi-million winter plan being rolled out across NHS Lothian this year to make sure patients can access care, during one of the busiest times of the year.

A £3.4m detailed strategy has been put in place to recruit extra staff, boost the numbers of services to work seven days and increase capacity in the community and in hospitals.

A number of initiatives have also been supported to help get patients home when they are well enough, in a bid to reduce the number of people who have been waiting too long.

Patient routes to treatment have been reviewed to help services respond to the challenges ahead.

A full directory of services and the types of injuries or illnesses that can be treated by each expert has been listed on NHS Lothian’s website https://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/HealthInformation/AandEIsNotTheOnlyOption/Pages/default.aspx

Patients are also urged to use NHS Inform which will detail the services on their doorstep, just by using their postcode https://www.nhsinform.scot/

Edinburgh’s Christmas Day baby

Congratulations to mother Ana Crispim and Zbigniew Kazimerczuk, who’s baby son Oliver Crispim was born at 01:35  at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health in the city’s Royal Infirmary.

Oliver weighed in at a solid 9lb 7oz.