News Item
On the 12th Day of Christmas my neighbour said to me, take me to A&E, my false nail is really hurting me!
This year NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield District PCT’s Choose Well campaign will include a twitter campaign lasting for the 12 days of Christmas highlighting the inappropriate things that people have gone to their local A&E for.
Every attendance at A&E in the UK costs a minimum of £59, and as many as one in four people who attend A&E could have been treated by their pharmacist or GP, or did not need any form of medical intervention.
By choosing the right NHS service if you become ill or injured you will not only be helping yourself, you will be helping hundreds of others by making sure services are running as efficiently as possible.
Pat Andrewartha, Urgent Care Manager at NHS Kirklees, said: “When you hear about some of the things that people go to A&E for it is tempting to find it funny. But when you work in the NHS there is a much more serious side to this. Going to A&E when you don’t need to costs the NHS an awful lot of money and more seriously can slow down the treatment of someone who does needs urgent medical attention.”
There is a range of ways you can get help if you are feeling unwell. They include the minor ailment service where patients can seek advice from their local pharmacist. Pharmacists are highly trained professionals and can give you advice on things like coughs, colds and stomach upsets and how to treat them.
A lot of illnesses can be treated at home but it’s important to keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet and to make sure all medication is in date.
To follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nhs_kirklees or to find your nearest walk-in centre or minor injuries unit by visiting www.nhs.uk or ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
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