The Choose Well campaign is being rolled out across the borough again this winter in a bid to help ease pressure on busy GP practices and A&E departments over the winter period.
Choose Well directs people to the health services that can give them the fastest and most effective treatment; and one of the key messages is that A&E departments are for those who are seriously ill or emergencies.
The Choose Well campaign highlights a number of alternative services that people can use to get fast and effective advice and treatment without an appointment and that are free of charge. These include local pharmacies for help and advice about minor ailments; NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units and NHS Direct.
Choose Well promotes a positive message about the range of help and advice available. It aims to support A&E and GP staff by giving them the time they need to concentrate on patients who need their expertise.
NHS trusts and primary care trusts will be working together to promote messages to the public.
Last winter saw 100,000 more patients attending North West hospital A&E departments than the year before
At its peak last year Category A calls to North West ambulance services increased by 25%-30%
77% of emergency calls to ambulance services result in a journey to A&E, but only 10% have a life-threatening emergency
Surveys have found that of this 77% only 40% are admitted to hospital and at least 50% could have been treated in a community setting
Each year there are approximately 57 million GP consultations, of which 51.4 million are for minor ailments alone
The cost to the NHS for treating minor ailments is £2 billion
A&E departments are for those who are seriously ill or emergencies
There are a number of services that people can use to get fast and effective advice and treatment without an appointment that are free of charge
If you are normally healthy and you think you could have swine flu, use National Pandemic Flu Service to get advice and treatment. Do not go to your GP or an A&E department as you could spread the virus to others. But if you have an underlying health condition, are pregnant or the person concerned is a child under five years of age, telephone your GP for advice
A&E departments and 999 services are for those who are seriously ill or emergencies
If you are normally healthy there are a number of services that you can use to get fast and effective advice and treatment without an appointment that are free of charge
If you are normally healthy and you think you could have swine flu, use National Pandemic Flu Service to get advice and treatment. Do not go to your GP or an A&E department as you could spread the virus to others. But if you have an underlying health condition, are pregnant or the person concerned is a child under one, telephone your GP for advice.
