Shropshire residents urged to think before dialling 999
People across Shropshire and the West Midlands are being encouraged to “Choose Well” if they need to use NHS services this Autumn and Winter.
The number of people calling 999 for an ambulance is growing rapidly with an increase of around 5% each year, for the last 15 years.
The role of West Midlands Ambulance Service is to attend to life-threatening cases such as choking, chest pains, serious blood loss, stroke, or if the patient is unconscious.
Every day, the service receives more than 2,500 ‘999’ calls; of those, only around 10% are genuinely life threatening emergencies.
Unfortunately, many people that do call the ambulance service could have used another part of the NHS as they have relatively ‘minor’ conditions. It is a similar situation in many A&E Departments around the Region.
The ‘Choose Well’ campaign aims to direct patients to the service best suited to their illness or condition, which could be self care, at a pharmacy or a walk in centres.
Calling 999 or attending an A&E department should be for genuine life threatening emergencies only.
WMAS Director of Nursing, Sandy Brown, said: “We are currently seeing large ‘spikes’ in demand with the number of calls as much as 50% above what we would have expected.
“In these circumstances, it becomes very challenging to get to all of the patients that really need us quickly.
“We have already seen a number of cases of coughs, colds and winter bugs doing the rounds. If you start to have the symptoms of flu or a heavy cold, stay at home, keep warm and take plenty of non-alcoholic drinks. The ambulance service can’t help you.
“There is still a common misconception that if you get taken to hospital by ambulance, you will be seen more quickly. This is simply untrue. All patients are triaged to see how serious their case is when they arrive at A&E. If everybody understood this, there would be many fewer 999 calls.
“If our crews and vehicles are dealing with minor cases, they are not able to get to the patients with genuine life-threatening illness or injury which ultimately could put lives at risk.
If it’s not a life threatening emergency, please don’t call 999.
If you become unwell, please stop to consider what is the most appropriate point of accessing NHS services so that you can ‘Choose Well’. "
This guide can help you decide:
Step 1: Keep your own medicine cabinet stocked with common remedies for coughs, colds and headaches as well as items such as sticking plasters for minor wounds and grazes
Step 2: Visit your local pharmacy for over-the-counter medicines and advice
Step 3: Call NHS Direct for advice on 0845 46 47 or log onto www.nhs.uk for a wide range of advice and information about many conditions.
Step 4: Use a ‘walk-in’ treatment centre or visit a minor injuries unit.
Step 5: Make an appointment with your own GP. There is also an out-of-hours service available in all areas of the Region.
Step 6: In an emergency go to your local A&E department or call 999 for an ambulance.
